Watch the trailer for Will Smith's latest attempt for an Oscar

As summer winds down and superheroes rest up their capes for the season, the cinemagoer's eye turns to films of a more sombre affair, with new Will Smith feature Concussion leading the way.

The film, helmed by Parkland director Peter Landesman and adapted from writer Jeanne Marie Laskas’ GQ article “Game Brain”, has had its first full trailer emerge this weekend, and it looks as though Smith is aiming for the Oscar he missed out on with Ali with this other hard-hitting biopic.

The former Fresh Prince plays forensic neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, the man widely credited with discovering the link between repeated concussive head trauma in NFL players, and the memory and other lifestyle problems many current and former American Football players face.

A stellar cast will be backing up Smith in his quest to bring the dark underbelly of one of America’s favourite pastimes to life: Alex Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Eddie Marsan, Adewale Akinnoyue-Agbaje, Luke Wilson and Albert Brooks will be along for the ride.

And with the film set for a Christmas Day US release, before popping up here on 29 January, Will Smith might finally get his ultimate present come 2016.