World War II has long been a rich source for cinema, offering tales of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. But few stories capture the sheer terror of aerial combat like those set thousands of feet above enemy territory. While classics like Saving Private Ryan and recent series like Masters of the Air have brought these experiences to the screen, a new British production is set to offer a fresh perspective on the war.
Collider has exclusively obtained the first behind-the-scenes images from I'll Get By, a WWII drama starring Josh Bolt and Louis Ashbourne Serkis. The photos, taken by Tom Carlill, show the cast in military flight uniforms as production begins at Sony Virtual Production Studio in Norwich, England. The film uses cutting-edge LED Volume technology to recreate the claustrophobic and terrifying environment of a B-17 bomber during combat missions.
What Is 'I'll Get By' About?
Written and directed by Brandon Ashplant, I'll Get By follows a crew of American airmen whose B-17 is hit by anti-aircraft fire during a bombing run over occupied France. Forced to bail out of their burning aircraft, the survivors land behind enemy lines in the chaotic aftermath of D-Day. With the front line constantly shifting, their fight for survival becomes increasingly desperate.
The cast includes Josh Bolt (Nowhere Boy, Last Tango in Halifax) as Technical Sergeant Donald I. Kantowski, and Louis Ashbourne Serkis (The Kid Who Would Be King, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple) as Second Lieutenant Al Paduano. Cameron Ashplant (The Last Bus) plays Second Lieutenant Walt "Virginia" Hawthorne, while Spike White (The Good Liar, The Sandman) takes on the role of Lieutenant Raymond D. Deaton. Robert Rhodes (The Rapture, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple) is Captain Harold O. Bowen, and Reggie McHale (Masters of the Air, Surviving Black Hawk Down) portrays Sergeant Jasper W. Collier Jr.
Andrew Butler (Albert, In Another Life) serves as director of photography. The producing team includes Ashplant, Academy Award nominee Jonathan Tammuz, BAFTA member Patrik Krivanek, Georgia Clarke, John Whitby, and Alexander Finer. Executive producers are Richard Laverick, Stephen Ainsworth, and Stephen Collas.
The film is produced by Golden Goat Films, Hex Pictures, and Ephor Pictures, with support from Guernsey Arts, the Institute of Screen Arts Guernsey, and Norfolk Screen. As production gets underway, fans of war dramas can look forward to a story that promises to be as emotionally gripping as it is visually stunning. For those who can't wait, there are plenty of classic WWII films to stream in the meantime.
With its innovative use of virtual production and a talented cast, I'll Get By is shaping up to be a must-watch for history buffs and cinema lovers alike. Stay tuned for more updates as the project develops.
