We don’t blame the receptionist for her confusion when Robert De Niro walks through the door and introduces himself as the new intern. “How old are you?” She asks in disbelief.

The Godfather II star plays Anne Hathaway’s 70-year-old intern Ben Whittaker in the upcoming film The Intern.

In a new trailer, widower Ben explains why he’s back in the workplace. “In retirement, there’s an ongoing relentless effort in creativity,” he says.

“I tried yoga, learned to cook, bought some plants, took classes in Mandarin — believe me, I’ve tried everything. I just know there’s a hole in my life and I need to fill it. Soon.”

He fills it with an internship at an online fashion site, where The Devil Wears Prada star Anne is his boss (Miranda Priestley would be proud of her former protege).

Robert De Niro in The Intern (Warner Bros)
Robert De Niro in The Intern (Warner Bros)

Anne, who plays Jules Ostin, soon finds herself bonding with Ben and looking to him for guidance.

Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, the comedy also stars Andrew Rannells, Adam DeVine, Nat Wolff and Reid Scott.

Anne Hathaway and Robert de Niro in The Intern
Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro in The Intern (Warner Bros)

The Intern is released in UK cinemas on October 2.