Gunfire, explosions and Harry Styles! Dramatic new Dunkirk trailer sees the One Direction star DROWNING in the Channel as the Germans and allied forces do battle  

• e-mail

It begins with the bodies of fallen soldiers bobbing in the English Channel.

And the dramatic new trailer for Christopher Nolan's war epic Dunkirk doesn't let up from there as the film's star-studded cast deliver noteworthy performances.

Harry Styles takes a prominent role during the two-minute clip, with the One Direction singer on the cusp of drowning in one dramatic moment.

Scroll down for video  

Star turn: The dramatic new trailer for Christopher Nolan's war epic Dunkirk sees Harry Styles make his acting debut

Sir Kenneth Branagh, in an officer's role, explains there are 400,000 soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk as German planes fire at them from above.

After the terrifying attack, the camera then shows Harry (who plays Tommy) and two other young soldiers sitting on an eerily quiet beach as one of their comrades goes for a dip in the murky sea fully clothed. 

Cillian Murphy's character is rescued from the water following another aerial assault from the German bombers by Mark Rylance's character.

Sink or swim: Harry takes a prominent role during the two-minute clip, with the One Direction singer on the cusp of drowning in one dramatic moment

Concern: Harry had worry etched on his face below deck in one of the boats

Tragic scenes: Sir Kenneth Branagh, in an officer's role, explains there are 400,000 soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk as the German planes fire at them from above

When he's told he's being taken back to Dunkirk, he insists 'I'm not going back' as he shivers with a blanket around his shoulders.

But Rylance responds: 'There's no hiding from this son. We have a job to do.'

Academy Award nominee Tom Hardy makes the briefest of appearances as a Spitfire pilot, with the trailer placing an emphasis on a collaborative effort rather than leading roles.

It ends with Branagh claiming that home is within touching distance.

Saved! Cillian Murphy's character is rescued from the water following another aerial assault from the German bombers by Mark Rylance's character

Longing for home: When he's told he's being taken back to Dunkirk, he insists 'I'm not going back' as he shivers with a blanket around his shoulders

Back to the front: Rylance told Murphy they had a job to do

Star-studded: Academy Award nominee Tom Hardy makes the briefest of appearances as a Spitfire pilot

Open water swimming: One of the soldiers goes for a dip in the murky sea fully clothed

All aboard: Troops worked as a team to board a sailing yacht

With a star-studded cast, a multi-million pound budget and the guidance of celebrated director Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is poised to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2017.

The acclaimed director, who boasts the likes of The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception and Interstellar on his resume, has paid astonishing attention to detail while filming the project. 

He drafted in a fleet of vehicles, which included a Spitfire and a French T-47 Class Destroyer, Maillé-Brézé, for an authentic reproduction rather than relying on CGI. 

Nowhere to hide: Gunfire from above ripped through the allied vessels

Manpower: The scale of the project is certainly impressive

Horror of war: Gunfire and explosions created carnage on the beach

RIP: The trailer begins with the bodies of fallen soldiers bobbing in the English Channel

Surrounded: The allies grabbed propaganda leaflets dropped by the Germans

Pride of Britain: The Union Jack blew in the breeze as dead soldiers lay motionless

Deserted: The French streets were clear of civilians

Alongside the ship, which was anchored near the beach throughout a hectic shooting schedule, Supermarine Spitfire - the RAF's famed single-seater fighter of the period - were put through their paces in aerial shots. 

The film boasts a cast of celebrated British stars, amongst them  Kenneth Branagh, James D'Arcy, Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy. 

Slash Film reported that the big names in the cast are taking on the film’s supporting roles, with the young newcomers - like Styles - taking centre stage.

Dunkirk opens in 1940 with hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops hemmed in by the German army on the beaches of northern France.

Debut: The pop star will make his acting debut in the forthcoming blockbuster 

The British launched Operation Dynamo to save them between May 7 and June 4; 338,000 arrived safely in England.

Among the fleet were hundreds of privately owned boats – popularly known as the �little ships’.

Nolan’s film is the first recreation of the evacuation since the 1958 original starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough and Robert Urquhart. 

Is that Harry Styles? A first official promotional poster for Christopher Nolan's World War II drama Dunkirk has prompted feverish speculation about one of its more recognisable ensemble cast-members

Warner Bros Pictures previously teased fans with a first trailer at the beginning of August.

The 56-second-long preview is shot in dull tones and focuses on the bleak, raw nature of the French coastline in 1940, giving a hint as to how the finished visuals will look.

None of the film's star names feature in the trailer, with the eerie landscape all that's required to portray the desperate nature of the situation.

The teaser did cause some controversy, even so, as eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the unidentified extra who was accused of 'ruining' the chilling atmosphere.

'Looking positively delighted about being bombed by Nazis!' said one disgruntled fan after the clip was released via the Official Twitter account.  

Speculation: Taking to social media on Tuesday afternoon, many speculated that Harry Styles may well be taking centre stage in the poster - despite only taking a peripheral role in the film

A  first official promotional poster for World War II drama Dunkirk, released on Tuesday, has also prompted feverish speculation about one of its more recognisable ensemble cast-members.

Embracing a theme common in many of Nolan’s promotional missives, the poster focuses on a moodily lit character with his back to camera while staring out at something – this time the fiery chaos that followed the defence and evacuation of British and Allied troops from mainland Europe. 

With helmet in hand and gun on shoulder, the unnamed protagonist, dressed in period British army trench coat and fatigues, is seen gazing out at the stormy coastline and the distant, smouldering silhouette of a sinking vessel.  

Cutting his teeth: Harry makes his acting debut in the forthcoming blockbuster

Definitely him: One emphatic One Direction fan wrote 'That's gotta be Harry'

However the character's dark brown head of hair has led fans to the conclusion that it is Styles.

Taking to social media on Tuesday afternoon, many speculated that the 22-year old may well be taking centre stage in the poster - despite only taking a peripheral role in the film.  

'Looks like him, right?' commented one, while another echoed the reaction of many by tweeting: 'Is that Harry?'

Seemingly convinced she was looking at the back of Harry's head, a third raved: 'soooo proud of my BABE.' 

Another emphatic One Direction fan agreed, writing: 'That's gotta be Harry.'  

Recurring theme: Another echoed the reaction of many by tweeting 'Is it Harry?'

Coming soon: The World War II epic will hit cinemas in July 2017 

That's my boy: Fans were convinced they were looking at the tousle haired One Direction star

Nolan's latest film, a realisation of the history defining battle against Nazi Germany that took place on the French coast in 1940, features a huge ensemble cast. 

And a rather more dubious faction of fans were quick to point out that Harry's role is greatly reduced by comparison - making his appearance in such a prominent piece of promotional material unlikely. 

'I mean looks like him but I doubt that he's the main protagonist of the movie,' commented one. 

Another noted: 'Guys, just bc harrys in the move doesnt mean the movie revolves around him. im PRETTY sure thats someone else.' (sic) 

Dunkirk will be released in IMAX theatres across the United Kingdom from July 21.

Not sure: And a rather more dubious faction of fans were quick to point out that Harry's role is greatly reduced

Grim: The battle's devastating losses are referenced in a new trailer 

Gripping: Anotheer still from the film's latest trailer finds a soldier with his back to camera while standing on the Dunkirk shoreline