LAS VEGAS - Martin Scorsese unveiled the first footage from his film "Killers of the Flower Moon" at CinemaCon, where his lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio and pop superstar Rihanna were among the surprise guests.
Dark Western "Killers" is Scorsese's sixth movie with DiCaprio, and his tenth with Robert De Niro -- but the first time the legendary director has ever brought his go-to A-listers together.
A true story of greed, love and murder set in the 1920s, when members of the newly oil-rich Osage Nation in Oklahoma began dying and disappearing in mysterious circumstances, the twisty crime drama hits theatres in October.
Footage played at the movie industry summit in Las Vegas showed DiCaprio's Ernest Burkhart in a romantic relationship with a Native American woman (Lily Gladstone) while seemingly caught in the middle of brutal conflict between the Osage and encircling oil-hungry white capitalists.
De Niro plays William Hale, who is seen conspiring with Burkhart, while Jesse Plemons appears as lawman Tom White, sent from the newly formed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the murders.
Paramount presented footage from other upcoming films, including "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning Part One" and "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts."
Star Dominique Fishback told AFP the presence of more "Black and brown people" and voices in "Transformers" would open up the seven-movie, billions-grossing franchise to "more and more hearts and households."
"It almost feels like we're starting the franchise over," said co-star Anthony Ramos.
The presentation featured a surprise appearance from pop superstar Rihanna, who joked that her newly announced role in "The Smurf Movie" would earn her "cool points" with her children.
The Barbados-born artist will voice the role of Smurfette, as well as write and sing original music and produce the film, out February 2025.
"I tried to get the Papa Smurf part but it didn't work out," she joked on stage at Caesars Palace.
Animation means "I get to show up in my pajamas in my third trimester and play a little boo badass," said Rihanna, who is pregnant with her second child.
"I hope this gives me a little bit of cool points with my kids one day. I'm just hoping."