Roach frames the film as "a cautionary tale about romance," showing how passion and pride can fuel both connection and conflict. The footage reveals the Roses at their happiest and at their most volatile.
Cumberbatch describes Theo as an architect whose career implodes after a building collapse, "taking his ego with it." As his confidence crumbles, the balance of their marriage shifts. Colman explains, "They swap roles. He looks after the kids and Ivy ends up taking over the breadwinner role - and she starts to love it."
That shift sets the stage for their marriage to fracture. "It was love at the beginning at least, and it's still there," Colman reflects, "but really being stretched thin."
The featurette also highlights the film's biting humor. Kate McKinnon, who appears as the couple's friend, calls the tone "grounded and satirical at the same time. It's that beautiful dry British wit that only Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch can pull off."
Andy Samberg was immediately hooked when he read the script. "I was like, this is fantastic," he says, while Allison Janney praises McNamara's approach as "a reimagining of the original film, 'The War of the Roses.'"
Roach notes that audiences may find themselves conflicted about who to root for. "Some people side a little more with Ivy and some with Theo. They sometimes change during the course of the film, and then all you can do is just root for them to figure it out."
With a mix of sharp humor, raw emotion, and escalating chaos, "The Roses" promises a darkly funny ride when it opens in theaters August 29.
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Searchlight Pictures and this ABC station.