Filming has begun on the Christopher Nolan-directed World War II movie Dunkirk in the exact spot in France where, 76 years ago this week, 100,000 soldiers were evacuated. We have your first look at Dunkirk set photos in the gallery below, featuring warships circling off the coast to add war-like atmosphere while cast members hold up cutouts of soldiers to create the illusion of more people in battle.
Warner Bros. Pictures‘ Dunkirk, which Nolan will direct from his own original screenplay, has cast a crop of newcomers who include Fionn Whitehead (ITV’s “Him”), Jack Lowden (’71), Aneurin Barnard (Citadel), and One Direction singer/songwriter Harry Styles. Recent Oscar winner Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Kenneth Branagh (Valkyrie), Cillian Murphy (Inception), James D’Arcy (Cloud Atlas) and Tom Hardy (The Revenant) will be the more experienced members of what is said will be a largely young/unknown ensemble cast.
Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.
The large scale film will be shot on a combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large format film photography for maximum image quality and high impact immersion. Shooting will utilize many of the real locations of true-life events, which form the background for the story. Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner Emma Thomas.
Warner Bros. Pictures is distributing Dunkirk worldwide and has slated the film for a July 21, 2017 release. The film will be released theatrically on IMAX, 70mm, 35mm and all other screens.
