With an impressive resume that includes “Hunger,” “Lovers Rock,” “Shame” and “12 Years a Slave” it’s always exciting to get a new film from former-visual-artist-turned-director McQueen. His latest one happens to also be his most commercial film.
“Blitz,” produced by Apple Studios, is the most expensive film of McQueen’s career. The WWII epic stars Elliott Heffernan, Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson and is based on an original idea by McQueen. A trailer has now been unveiled.
The PG-13 rated film takes place during the German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940. It’s a “hero’s journey” of a 9-year-old boy (Elliott Heffernan) trying to get back home to his mother (Saoirse Ronan), while exploring Britain during WWII. The film is intercut with sequences of the mother, named Rita, searching for her son.
“Blitz” skipped Telluride, Venice and Toronto. Instead, it’s set to have its world premiere at the 68th BFI London Film Festival and NYFF just a few days later. Just over a month after its BFI London premiere, “Blitz” will release in select cinemas on November 1. It’s going to be streaming, on Apple TV+, starting November 22, just three weeks after its theatrical launch.