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What makes 1917 so special is the style of its filmmaking. Mendes, alongside cinematographer Roger Deakins, crafted 1917 streaming on various platforms, viewers will recognize many familiar faces in 1917's cast, with even the movie's cameos starring some major actors.

George MacKay as William "Will" Schofield

Date of Birth: March 16, 1992

• Active Since: 2002

Actor: George MacKay was born in London, England, and gained some early recognition as an actor in the 2003 live-action retelling of Peter Pan. Since then, Mackay has played roles in films like 2009's The Boys Are Back, 2013's How I Live Now, and 2016's Captain Fantastic. These are just a few of the roles the actor has played over the years, but there is no denying MacKay's breakout role was Will Schofield in 1917. The film gave MacKay worldwide recognition thanks to his fantastic performance in the film's central role.

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Character: As arguably the main character of the film, MacKay has the most screen time in 1917. The film centers around Will and his fellow soldier Tom Blake, chronicling their journey to the frontline to deliver orders that prevent a catastrophic offensive by the Allied forces. Will serves as the vehicle for the audience in 1917, something aided by the film's unique style of being made to look like a continuous take. The camera often follows Will throughout wartorn , encountering various dangers, allies, and enemies.

Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporal Blake

Date of Birth: September 7, 1997

• Active Since: 2005

Actor: Dean-Charles Chapman was born in Havering, England, a borough on the outskirts of London. Chapman is a relatively new face to the big screen and is primarily known for playing the titular role in the West End production of Billy Elliot. His other notable roles include the Netflix medieval piece The King and the Bruce Springsteen-inspired musical Blinded by the Light. Chapman's most mainstream role, besides 1917, was in HBO's Game of Thrones, with Chapman playing two different characters between 2013 and 2016.

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Character: In 1917, Chapman plays the other central character opposite MacKay's Will. Chapman plays Lance Corporal Thomas "Tom" Blake. At the beginning of the film, it is Blake who is tasked with delivering a message to the frontline as his brother, Joseph, is part of the regiment whose attack must be called off. Blake chooses Schofield to accompany him, leading the two on the perilous mission. Blake's character is arguably more involved than Schofield despite being a secondary character, given his personal involvement in 1917's story.

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Mark Strong as Captain Smith

Date of Birth: August 5, 1963

• Active Since: 1989

Actor: Veteran actor Mark Strong makes an appearance midway through 1917's story. Strong was born in London, England, and has been acting since the late 1980s. Strong's breakout roles both came in 2007, first in Danny Boyle's Sunshine and later in Matthew Vaugh's Stardust. Strong has since been a mainstay character actor in the Hollywood industry, appearing in the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Kick-Ass, Green Lantern, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Shazam! to name only a handful.

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Character: Unlike Schofield and Blake, Captain Smith only plays a small role in 1917. Smith is encountered along the journey through as the Captain of another British unit. The unit offers Schofield transportation to the French town of Écoust-Saint-Mein, with Smith offering some advice to Schofield before departing on his own mission.

Andrew Scott as Lieutenant Leslie

Date of Birth: October 21, 1976

• Active Since: 1994

Actor: Andrew Scott was born in Dublin, Ireland, and has played a part in several big roles over the years. In the mid-1990s, Scott began acting, appearing in small roles in the likes of Saving Private Ryan, Nora, and Dead Bodies. Scott found more success in the realm of TV, appearing in Band of Brothers and gaining widespread recognition for his role as James Moriarty in BBC's Sherlock. Since then, Scott has appeared in major productions like Spectre, Alice Through the Looking Glass, All of Us Strangers, and Fleabag.

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Character: Scott's appearance in 1917 is similar to Strong's in that he only has one, extended cameo appearance. Scott portrays Lieutenant Leslie, the man in command of the trenches looking out over No Man's Land. Leslie is responsible for sending Schofield and Blake across No Man's Land, kickstarting their journey to deliver the crucial no-attack message to the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment.

Colin Firth as General Erinmore

Date of Birth: September 10, 1960

• Active Since: 1983

Actor: One of the more purely recognizable actors in 1917 is Colin Firth. Born in Grayshott, England, Firth began acting in the early-1980s. Some of Firth's earlier roles include Femme Fatale and Fever Pitch. In 1995, Firth gained widespread recognition for his role as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, leading to roles in more prominent films like Shakespeare in Love. Bridget Jones's Diary increased Colin Firth's popularity before he appeared in more mainstream movies like Mamma Mia!, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The King's Speech, and Kingsman: The Secret Service, among others.

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Character: In 1917, Erinmore is the British General who debriefs Schofield and Blake at the beginning of the film. Erinmore provides the two main characters with the basics of their mission and a timeframe while stressing the importance of success. Erinmore's demeanor is somewhat more friendly than the other higher-ups in the British Army whom Schofield and Blake encounter, though with no less authority.

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Benedict Cumberbatch as Colonel Mackenzie

Date of Birth: July 19, 1976

• Active Since: 1998

Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch was born in London and began acting when he was 22. Much of Cumberbatch's earlier work was in the realm of TV and theater, before his breakthrough role in 2010 as the titular character in the BBC's Sherlock. The acclaim for Cumberbatch in Sherlock earned him roles in some major Hollywood films, including Star Trek: Into Darkness, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Hobbit trilogy, 12 Years a Slave, and The Imitation Game. Cumberbatch's most mainstream role is that of Doctor Strange, a Marvel superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role he has played in seven projects.

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Character: Mackenzie is another of 1917's British officers, giving Cumberbatch a smaller role, like Strong, Lesile, and Firth. Cumberbatch's Mackenzie is the Colonel of the 2nd Battalion to whom Schofield and Blake have been tasked with delivering orders from General Erinmore. Mackenzie is a much more hardened soldier than the likes of Erinmore or Smith, proving to be somewhat dismissive of Schofield in the latter stages of 1917's story.

Richard Madden as Lieutenant Joseph Blake

Date of Birth: June 18, 1986

• Active Since: 1997

Actor: Richard Madden is an actor born in Elderslie, Scotland. Madden spent the early years of his career performing in theater, touring with the Shakespeare's Globe company as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Madden's rise to fame came in 2011 when he was cast in HBO's Game of Thrones as Robb Stark. Madden played the role until 2013, going on to play Prince Kit in the live-action remake of Cinderella. Madden gained acclaim for his performance in the BBC thriller Bodyguard before ing the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ikaris in Eternals.

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Character: Despite not appearing in the film until the final minutes, Madden's Joseph Blake looms large over 1917's plot. Joseph is the brother of Chapman's Tom, assigned to the regiment the latter is trying to save alongside Schofield. As such, Joseph is essentially the driving force of 1917's plot, providing both Tom and the audience with an emotional-based reason to care about the film's central mission.

1917's ing Cast & Characters

Given that 1917 is an ensemble war movie, there are several other actors who play roles in the film. Many do not have a big role, instead only appearing in extended cameo scenes like the aforementioned actors. Similarly, the large cast of 1917 means a lot of actors in the production have few credits, with many bringing to life the everyday soldiers of the British Army in World War I.

• Daniel Mays as Sargeant Sanders
• Adrian Scarborough as Major Hepburn
• Jamie Parker as Lieutenant Richards
• Pip Carter as Lieutenant Gordon
• Michael Jibson as Lieutenant Hutton
• Richard McCabe as Colonel Collins

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Release Date

December 25, 2019

Runtime

119 minutes

Director

Sam Mendes

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Set against the backdrop of war-torn during WWI, 1917 is directed by Sam Mendes and stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as two young British soldiers tasked with delivering a dangerous message to stop an attack that could the lives of thousands of other soldiers at risk. The film uses long takes to make it appear that the entire narrative takes place over the course of two continuous shots. Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch also star. 

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