‘Darkest Hour’ Trailer: Gary Oldman Is Barely Recognizable as Winston Churchill

For his next trick, watch as Gary Oldman disappears into the role of Winston Churchill in the new trailer for Darkest Hour. The famously dedicated actor has made himself almost unrecognizable as the former Prime Minister in the upcoming World War II drama, and if it weren’t for all his shouting, you might not even know it was him at all. All that impressive makeup makes it pretty difficult to focus on anything else, but the trailer for Darkest Hour does its damnedest to distract you from the distraction with some Very Intense drama.

How best to describe the trailer for Darkest Hour? Almost laughably severe, maybe? Whatever it is, Oldman’s zealous and super-shouty level of commitment to the role has made this film an instant must-see — and that’s before you take into account that it was directed by Joe Wright. Darkest Hour takes place on the eve of World War II and follows Churchill in his first days as Prime Minister of Great Britain, as the weight of the world (and a fat suit, apparently) rests on his shoulders:

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.

Scripted by Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything), Darkest Hour also stars Ben Mendelsohn, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas and Stephen Dillane, and hits theaters on November 22.