Gary Oldman has undergone some pretty extreme transformations for his past roles through the power of prosthetics and make-up – Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Hannibal (in which he plays the disfigured Mason Verger) come to mind, for example.
The first image of the actor in Darkest Hour, a World War II drama from Atonement filmmaker Joe Wright, in which Oldman plays major historical political figure Winston Churchill, has been released, and Oldman looks amazing.
The official plot synopsis for Darkest Hour was also released today: ‘Within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill must face one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation.
‘As the unstoppable Nazi forces roll across Western Europe and the threat of invasion is imminent, and with an unprepared public, a skeptical King, and his own party plotting against him, Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, and attempt to change the course of world history.'
It co-stars Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI, John Hurt as Churchill’s successor Neville Chamberlain, Lily James as Churchill’s personal secretary, and Kristin Scott Thomas as Churchill’s wife Clementine.
The film is scheduled to open on December 29th 2017.
