Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri positions Frances McDormand as Oscars 2018 contender

The first trailer for the latest film from In Bruges writer-director Martin McDonagh has positioned it's lead actor Frances McDormand as a frontrunner in next year's Oscars race.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri follows Mildred Hayes (McDormand), a woman who - after growing frustrated with th lack of activity surrounding her daughter's murder case - goes to war with the local law enforcement bu painting three controversial signs which lead into her town.

Going by the new trailer, it seems McDormand - who won a Best Actress Oscar for Fargo (1996) - will give a blistering performance as the no-nonsense protagonist at the centre of the film.

The film also stars Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell and Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage.

Manchester by the Sea breakout Lucas Hedges will also appear.

This will mark playwright McDonagh's first film since the Colin Farrell-starring black comedy Seven Psychopaths which was released in 2012.

His brother John Michael McDonagh is also a writer-director whose credits include The Guard, Calvary and last year's War on Everyone.

This year's acting Oscars went to Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) and La La Land star Emma Stone.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri will be released later this year.