The first trailer for Clint Eastwood's The Mule is now available online. Right before his thriller The 15:17 to Paris opened in theaters, Eastwood signed on to helm and star in this true-story crime drama. In the film, the Hollywood icon portrays Earl Stone, an elderly man hurting for money who unknowingly starts working as a drug courier for the cartel. As one might expect, Stone's new career path draws the attention of the DEA, and the drama unfolds from there.

As has become typical for Eastwood, The Mule quickly moved through production, wrapping in July. Though Warner Bros. has a loaded fall/winter schedule that includes Oscar frontrunner A Star is Born and DC Comics tentpole Aquaman, studio executives were so impressed by what they saw, they opted to make The Mule a late addition to their 2018 slate. The film was recently confirmed for a December premiere, meaning WB would have to begin promotion relatively soon. Now, a preview has been unveiled.

WB released the trailer today, offering viewers a taste of what Eastwood has in store with his latest effort. Check it out in the space below:


On-paper, The Mule sounds like it could have been a dark comedy in the vein of Martin Scorsese or the Coen brothers, but Eastwood instead chose to lean on the rather serious nature of the narrative. The trailer paints his Earl as a man haunted by his previous failures as a father and husband, and in dire economic straits with his business facing foreclosure. That isn't to say The Mule won't have moments of levity throughout (Stone's criticism of his niece's pecan pie is worth a chuckle), though it's clear this is first and foremost a drama about an elderly man caught in a dangerous situation. The approach here is certainly in line with Eastwood's previous directorial efforts, so he should be in his wheelhouse - both behind and in front of the camera.

In many respects, The Mule looks to be the polar opposite of the Robert Redford vehicle The Old Man and the Gun, as it portrays the darker side of what can happen when a senior citizen runs afoul with the law. Hopefully, Eastwood's film is as well-received as Redford's, adding to his list of impressive performances. Since Eastwood always works quickly, a concern is that The Mule will end up rushed, but WB placed it in the competitive holiday season for a reason. They must be confident in its quality, and it'll be interesting to see how the film shapes up.

The Mule (2018) release date: Dec 14, 2018