Warner Bros. have released the first trailer for The Judge, an emotionally-charged family drama and thriller that sees Robert Downey Jr. starring alongside Robert Duvall as father and son. David Dobkin ('Wedding Crashers') directs this tense and surprising tale of family loyalties and moral challenges.

Though Robert Downey Jr. imparts some of his trademark charm and arrogance to the role to humorous effect for the opening scenes of the movie, Wedding Crashers The Judge is not, with serious and thought-provoking undertones.

Downey Jr. is Hank Palmer, a ruthless but brilliant lawyer who has no qualms about defending people he knows to be blatantly guilty, leading to tension in the courtroom. His high-flying city lifestyle hits the ground with a bump when he learns that his mother has died.

To attend his mother's funeral, Hank must venture back to Carlinville, Indiana but does so reluctantly because of his negative emotions towards the small, rural town and difficult relationship with his father, the local judge Joseph Palmer.

More: Robert Downey Jr. developing TV drama about rehab.

Things are frosty between the pair as they convene for the funeral but their tension is nothing compared to an impending, earth-shattering realisation.

The Judge Robert Downey Jr. Robert Duvall
Robert Downey Jr. & Robert Duvall Play A Father & Son With A Prickly Relationship...And A Big Problem.

The town's sheriff tells Hank that Joseph, who suffers with Alzheimer's, is now a murder suspect after blood from a hit-and-run victim was found on his car. Deciding to represent his father in court, Hank ends up battling it out with a particularly unfriendly prosecutor (Fargo's Billy Bob Thornton) who smells blood and wants to see Joseph go down for murder.

Watch the ‘The Judge’ trailer here.

Oscar winner Duvall and nominee Downey Jr. could have another shot at the awards seasons with sincere, powerful and moving performances alongside Vera Farmiga, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard, Melissa Leo, Leighton Meester, Ken Howard, David Krumholtz, Balthazar Getty, and Denis O'Hare.

The Judge will be released the 10th October in the US and the 24th October in the UK

More: Robert Duvall contemplating retirement after ‘Quixote’ movie.

The Judge Poster
Morally-Challenging & Emotionally-Stirring, 'The Judge' Is Set For Release In October This Year.