Darkest Hour trailer sees Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill deliver 'we shall fight on the beaches' speech

Co-starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Lily James, and Ben Mendelsohn

Earlier this year, Brian Cox played the great Winston Churchill, bringing a Shakespearian version of the British leader to the big screen.

Now, Gary Oldman will attempt the same, playing the Prime Minister in Darkest Hour, a World War II drama co-starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Lily James, and Ben Mendelsohn.

Pride & Prejudice’s Joe Wright will helm the upcoming film, the first trailer for which has been released online by Universal Pictures.

The official synopses reads:

A thrilling and inspiring true story begins on the eve of World War II as, within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman) 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.

Darkest Hour reaches cinemas January.