Apple Original Films has released the first trailer for Blitz, the latest feature from Academy Award-winning director Steve McQueen. The World War II epic stars four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan alongside newcomer Elliott Heffernan. Set to open in select theaters on November 1, Blitz will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on November 22 after its world debut as the opening film of the BFI London Film Festival.
Blitz tells the story of George (Heffernan), a nine-year-old boy in WWII-era London, sent to safety in the English countryside by his mother Rita (Ronan). Determined to reunite with his mother and grandfather Gerald (played by Paul Weller), George embarks on a perilous journey back to his East London home, where he faces escalating dangers amidst the chaos of war. Meanwhile, Rita is in a desperate search to find her missing son.
The film’s trailer offers a glimpse into the harrowing experience of wartime London, with intense scenes of aerial bombardments, a burning city, and a child navigating flooded tunnels of the London Underground. The score, composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer, adds to the film’s sense of urgency and emotion, suggesting it could be a contender for awards recognition.
Directed and written by McQueen, the film brings together an ensemble cast that includes Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, and more. Produced by McQueen’s Lammas Park alongside Working Title Films’ Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, the production boasts a stellar behind-the-scenes team. Adam Stockhausen, who previously collaborated with McQueen on 12 Years a Slave and Widows, handles production design, while Jacqueline Durran is responsible for the period costumes.
McQueen’s latest film is his first major feature since 2018’s Widows and his acclaimed 2020 anthology series Small Axe. Known for his award-winning films, including 12 Years a Slave, McQueen is once again expected to deliver a powerful cinematic experience with Blitz, potentially positioning it as one of the year’s top awards contenders.
With its release on the horizon, the film joins a long tradition of war epics like Dunkirk and Saving Private Ryan, which have captivated audiences while making a mark during awards season. Blitz could follow suit, with early signs pointing to critical and commercial success.
Blitz arrives in theaters November 1 and streams globally on Apple TV+ beginning November 22.
