Thanks to director Christopher Nolan‘s extraordinary success with The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, and Interstellar, his films have become events unto themselves. That’s why Warner Bros. is dropping the first look at Nolan’s next film, Dunkirk, almost a year before the movie is scheduled to hit theaters. And if the teaser is any indication, Nolan is bringing his brand of intensity to World War II!

Dunkirk is an original script by Nolan that is based upon the real life incident known as Operation Dynamo, which unfolded in May and June 1940, during the early days of World War II. Following the Battle of France, thousands of British, French, and Belgian soldiers were hopelessly surrounded by the German army at the beaches of Dunkirk, France. Almost inexplicably, the German forces decided to hold back; which set the stage for the emergency evacuation of over 300,000 troops. It quickly became known as “the Miracle of Dunkirk.”

There aren’t many familiar faces in the Dunkirk teaser trailer, but there is a palpable sense of dread as the trapped soldiers look up at a plane and react as if it is about to make an attack on them. That lack of familiarity is by design, as Nolan cast largely unknown and less established actors including Fionn Whitehead, Jack Lowden, and Aneurin Barnard in the leading roles. Nolan veterans Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy are also in the cast, which includes James D’Arcy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, and One Direction’s Harry Styles.

The Dunkirk teaser will make its theatrical debut this weekend with Suicide Squad, but the film won’t hit theaters until July 21, 2017.

What did you think about the first look at Dunkirk? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures