Gary Oldman takes viewers behind the scenes and into the mind of Winston Churchill in a new featurette for “The Darkest Hour” released Thursday.
“Winston Churchill is getting it from all sides,” Oldman says in the new clip released by Focus Features titled “Churchill: Man Behind the Legend.”
“He’s not only got fighting in his cabinet but he is about to go up against Adolf Hitler, and he has also got the worry of losing the troops,” he adds.
The featurette also includes commentary from co-stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James and director Joe Wright, as it examines the power of Churchill’s words and his lasting impact on politics.
“He wrote more words than Shakespeare and Dickens put together,” Oldman said.
“Kennedy said that Churchill mobilized the English language and sent it into battle,” Wright added.
“Darkest Hour” is set in the early days of World War II, as the newly installed Prime Minster finds himself torn between standing up to Adolf Hitler in the face of huge odds and sitting down at the bargaining table with the Nazis before England faces occupation or destruction.
One of Churchill’s greatest speeches, which served as an inspiration for the British, is also included in the featurette.
“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender,” he famously said.
“Darkest Hour” is now playing in select cities and expands nationwide on Dec. 22.