Off-screen trials and tribulations aside, the prospect of a new Roman Polanski film is always mouthwatering - and we're delighted to bring to you the first pictures from the Polish maestro's new film, the all-star drama Carnage.

Formerly known as God Of Carnage, but presumably renamed once it was decided that geeks wouldn't mistakenly pay to see the movie in the belief that it's about a terrible Spider-Man villain, Carnage boasts a frankly stunning cast in the shape of Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz. They play two couples who come together one evening to discuss the behaviour of their children, only for things to quickly become heated.

Sounds like a breeding ground for heated exchanges and award-level performances, and maybe a return to the sort of dark, claustrophobic, internalised material that is perfect for Polanski, but when we spoke to Foster recently, she said it might not be quite as serious as expected. "It all happens in real-time, so it’s about an hour and 45 minutes of negotiation between two sets of parents and how it all falls apart," she said. "Kind of like Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, but a little funnier. There’s a lot of wit.”

We've got three pictures from the film. The first, an official still, shows Foster (as Penelope), Reilly (as her husband, Michael), Winslet (as Nancy) and Waltz (as her husband, Alan), presumably before things turn sour. Then there's a shot of Polanski in full-on director mode and, finally, a neat pic of four director's chairs. Not sure who they belong to, though.

The movie was co-written by Polanski, and shot - as is his wont - entirely in Paris over a brisk five week period from February. It's currently in post-production and, if that takes about as long as the shoot, expect to see this one out by the end of the year, in time for Oscar contention.