First look at Brian Cox as the wartime leader as Miranda Richardson, John Slattery, James Purefoy and Ella Purnell join cast.

Salon Pictures has announced that principal photography has begun in Scotland on its new feature film, Churchill.

Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy) plays the Second World War leader in the 48-hours preceding D-Day in May 1944, when Churchill had to prepare a final attempt to crush Hitler’s encroaching army.

The cast is rounded out with Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter, Testament of Youth) as wife Clemmie Churchill, with John Slattery (Mad Men) as General Eisenhower, James Purefoy (Rome) as King George VI, and rising-star Ella Purnell (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Tarzan) joining the cast as Churchill’s secretary.

Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (The Railway Man), the film is written by British historian and author Alex von Tunzelmann in her feature debut.

Churchill was developed with the assistance of the BFI. Producers are Nick Taussig and Paul Van Carter of Salon Pictures with Piers Tempest and Jo Bamford’s Tempo Productions, alongside Claudia Bluemhuber of Silver Reel.

Embankment Films’ Tim Haslam and Hugo Grumbar are handling international sales. Silver Reel finance with Lipsync and Creative Scotland.

Further casting includes Julian Wadham (War Horse), Danny Webb (Valkyrie), George Anton (Marcella) Steve Cree (Brave) and Richard Durden (Wolf Hall).