Ali
The always-dependable* Sam Mendes is back – and not with a Bond film. The “Skyfall” and “American Beauty” helmer is behind the new WWI epic “1917”, the trailer of which was released today by Universal. Colin Firth, that British treasure, is a recognizable face among the debris with next-big-Marvel-superhero Richard Madden (“The Eternals”) and a bunch of young, GQ-types peppered across the battlefield. In all seriousness, the thing looks brick-solid.
Oh hell, is that Benedict Cumerbatch!?
Oh yes, yes… I. Am. In.
Wait.. did I just spot Mark Strong?!
Oh, RocknRolla, indeed.
Here’s the sales blurb :
At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield (Captain Fantastic’s George MacKay) and Blake (Game of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chapman) are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them.
1917 is directed by Sam Mendes, who wrote the screenplay with Krysty Wilson-Cairns (Showtime’s Penny Dreadful). The film is produced by Mendes and Pippa Harris (co-executive producer, Revolutionary Road; executive producer, Away We Go) for their Neal Street Productions, Jayne-Ann Tenggren (co-producer, The Rhythm Section; associate producer, Spectre), Callum McDougall (executive producer, Mary Poppins Returns, Skyfall) and Brian Oliver (executive producer, Rocketman; Black Swan).
The film is produced by Neal Street Productions for DreamWorks Pictures in association with New Republic Pictures. Universal Pictures will release the film domestically in limited release on December 25, 2019 and wide on January 10, 2020. Universal and Amblin Partners will distribute the film internationally, with eOne distributing on behalf of Amblin in the U.K.
Oscar bait, indeed.
*we’ve just about forgiven him for “Spectre”, right!?
