T2 Trainspotting new trailer revisits era-defining comedy

T2 Trainspotting's first full trailer has been released, showing the original characters reunited after twenty years. But will the new film have the same resonance as the era-defining 1996 hit?

The sequel to Danny Boyle's film sees the return of original cast members Ewan McGregor (Renton), Jonny Lee Miller (Sick Boy), Ewen Bremner (Spud), Robert Carlyle (Begbie) and Kelly MacDonald (Diane)

The original film was based on the book Trainspotting by Irving Welsh, which followed a group of heroin addicts in a depressed Edinburgh of the late 1980s.

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At the time, its energetic soundtrack, sharp humour and handsome lead were accused by some critics of glamorising heroin use.

But the film became a critical and popular hit, making stars of its leads and typifying the Cool Britannia spirit of the 1990s.

T2 Trainspotting features older, but not necessarily wiser versions of the lead characters. The trailer updates the first film's classic voiceover for a new generation, saying: "Choose life, choose Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and hope that someone, somewhere cares", accompanied by Underworld's Born Slippy in a nostalgic recalling of the original.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"102976","attributes":{"class":"media-image"}}]]

It also shows Renton revisiting his old associates, with Spud in a drug recovery programme and Sick Boy running a pub. Hardman Begbie, meanwhile, fresh out of prison, is as violent and dangerous as ever.

Boyle once again takes director's credit, while John Hodge's screenplay is loosely based on Welsh's 2002 novel Porno.

NME reports the author said T2 will see his characters find a "very innovative" way to get involved in the world of pornography.

Carlyle told the magazine: "I tell you, this film is going to be quite emotional for people, because the film sort of tells you to think about yourself. You are going to be thinking: 'F***. What have I done with my life?'"

T2 has had a long road to the screen. Boyle said in 2013 that he felt an obligation to fans of the original to get it right.

"This has been a long time coming. There's always been this long term plan for Trainspotting 2," he said in an interview for IndieWire. "The reason for doing it again is that people cherish the original, people remember it or have caught up with it if they never saw it because they were younger. So you want to make sure you don't disappoint people."

T2 Trainspotting will be released in UK cinemas on 27 January 2017.