The last time Matt Damon worked as co-writer / actor for Gus Van Sant, the result was Good Will Hunting, which scored him an Oscar. Now he’s reunited with the director for Promised Land, which Damon co-wrote with fellow thesp John Krasinski. Check out the trailer above, but head to Apple if you want the full HD version.

Promised Land looks to be in the vein of Erin Brockovich, or any of those dramas where small-town folk go up against big companies.

In this case, the hot-button topic being tackled is fracking. No, nothing to do with Battlestar Galactica, but a process whereby corporations drill through rock to release natural gas to use as an energy source. The procedure involves securing land and drilling rights, which can definitely mean healthy income for struggling agricultural families, but the methods have also led to destroyed farmlands, contaminated groundwater and all manner of environmental consequences.

Damon plays Steve Butler who, along with partner Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand) is sent into small towns to charm the locals and convince them to sell over their rights. But this time they face a challenge from a respected teacher (Hal Holbrook) and a farmer (Krasinski) who has seen the cost of the process going wrong first hand.

From the looks of the promo, the film will explore all the angles, though there’s bound to be some message material in there. Promised Land will be out in the US on January 11, but does not yet have a UK release date.