Universal Pictures has released the first official trailer for Sam Mendes’ World War I epic, “1917.”
During the first World War, two young British soldiers, played by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, are given a mission that seems impossible — they must cross enemy lines to stop an attack that would kill hundreds.
“Your orders are to deliver a message calling off tomorrow’s attack,” Colin Firth says to them in the trailer. “If you fail, we will lose 1,600 men. Your brother among them. If you fail, it will be a massacre.”
“There’s only one way this ends — last man standing,” Cumberbatch’s character adds.
Richard Madden, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott and Claire Duburcq also star.
Mendes is writing (alongside Krysty Wilson-Cairns) and directing “1917.” Mendes also produces the film with Pippa Harris (his partner at Neal Street Productions) and Jayne-Ann Tenggren and Callum McDougall. Michael Lerman is co-producing. The project will shoot in England and Scotland.
Neal Street Productions is producing for DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures. The film is set for release on December 25. Mendes made his first feature, “American Beauty,” under the DreamWorks label.
Watch the trailer above.