Tulip Fever Trailer (2017)

Trailer for Tulip Fever, starring Alicia Vikander, Judi Dench, Christoph Waltz and Dane DeHaan.

Set in 17th century Amsterdam, starring Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Christoph Waltz and Judi Dench.Tulip Fever follows a married woman (Alicia Vikander) who begins a passionate affair with an artist (Dane DeHaan) hired to paint her portrait. The lovers gamble on the booming market for tulip bulbs as a way to raise money to run away together.

To call Tulip Fever a long-gestation project would be an understatement. The film was originally meant to be made in 2004, with Jude Law and Keira Knightley cast to star. But then the production was halted. Why you ask? Well, it sounds incredible, but the production went to a standstill because of changes to tax rules when it comes to film production in the United Kingdom. As many know, tax rebates can make or break a production budget.

That alone was enough for Paramount Pictures to give up on the project and instead allow Harvey Weinstein to acquire it for a full restart. And, when filming did begin, it did take place back in the United Kingdom.

But the gestation would only grow, as Tulip Fever finished filming in 2014, and immediately saw release delays shortly after its first screening (at Cannes Film Festival of all places). It turns out that the feedback was far from excellent and even Harvey Weinstein was unhappy with the finished cut. So, according to rumor, some re-edits were required to deliver the cut we now have before us today.

The Tulip Fever trailer could have just shown a compilation of its [impressive] ensemble cast and audiences would at least have been curious enough to check out at least another trailer. And that is why this first look at the period drama is so surprising. Focusing on the premise, it fails to only show off a slight portion of the cast. Who might you have missed? Well, Cara Delevingne, who you will see soon in Suicide Squad, pops in real quick, as does a barely recognizable Matthew Morrison. But there is also Holliday Grainger, Tom Hollander, Jack O'Connell and Kevin McKidd, all familiar with period films but all failing to make an appearance here.

Maybe hold them off for the next trailer?

What we do see in this first trailer for Tulip Fever is a lot of Alicia Vikander, which makes sense considering she recently won an Academy Award; we also wonder if that same award helped move this theatrical release along. Then we are given a lot of Christoph Waltz, who just about everybody loves, with a splash of Dane DeHaan, who the verdict is still out on. Dane DeHaan is a great actor who has had some great character roles, but he has yet to really win over audiences. Are we supposed to be rooting for DeHaan in this film? It would seem that is the case, but it puts a lot of pressure on DeHaan to convey someone worth rooting for. Especially when he is up against a natural -- though sinister -- charmer like Waltz.

All in all, this looks like a period film worth checking out, even if Mr. Weinstein wasn't exactly impressed by the [first] result. Should be interesting what they come up with for the next trailer, especially since TWC decided to release Tulip Fever right smack dab in the summer blockbuster season.

*We take that back, and might as well make a game of it. Jack O'Connell makes a brief appearance in the trailer, but he is tricky to spot.