
Dunkirk is one of the mostly hotly anticipated films in years thanks to an all-star cast consisting of Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh and One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles, who was spotted on set today in uniform sporting a bloodied bandage.

He was joined by an army of extras and a fleet of WWII battle ships which descended on Dunkirk beach this afternoon as Hollywood invaded Normandy for another day of action-packed filming.

In full Allied regalia dozens of extras were seen marching up the beach - flanked by cardboard cut-outs to bolster their numbers - almost 76 years to the day since 338,000 British, French and Belgian troops were evacuated from the beaches during World War II.

The film is based on the real life evacuation from Dunkirk, which was one of the biggest operations of the Second World War and was one of the major factors in enabling the Allies to continue fighting.

It was the largest military evacuation in history, taking place between May 27 and June 4, 1940. The evacuation, nicknamed Operation Dynamo, saw an estimated 338,000 Allied troops rescued from northern France.

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Dunkirk is one of the mostly hotly anticipated films in years thanks to an all-star cast consisting of Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh and former One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles, who was spotted on set today in uniform with director Christopher Nolan

The film is boyband member Harry's big screen debut and for the role he has cut off his famous long locks for a more 1940s-appropriate short back and sides.

The first clear picture of the new military haircut emerged on Twitter on Wednesday and while his role in the film remains unclear, he has been spotted in British army uniform.

His character is thought to be one of the 338,000 troops evacuated from the French coast to save them from German soldiers in 1940.

While on set today the Doncaster-born singer was sporting a bandage on his hand which was stained with fake blood.

The film tells the story of the Dunkirk evacuation, code-named Operation Dynamo, in between 26 May and 4 June 1940 under the supervision and mastermind of Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay.

In uniform: While his role is yet unclear, Styles has been spotted in British army uniform, suggesting that he will take on the role of one of the troops in the new WWII film

Dramatic debut: His character is one of the 338,000 troops evacuated from the French coast to save them from German soldiers in 1940

Makeover: It will be the singer's big screen debut and as a tribute to his dedication to the film, the boyband hunk has cut off his famous curls (right) for a new 'short-back-and-sides' look that suits the style of the time

Fishing boats, ships and pleasure craft were all sent from the Kent coast to Dunkirk to rescue British and French armies as the Germans closed in on the northern coast of France.

Filming began for the Warner Bros big screen remake on Monday as two WWII aircrafts and two helicopters touched down at Merville-Lestrem Airport and a French T-47 Class Destroyer arrived in Normandy. They were joined by 50 extras dressed in full uniform.

Back on the beaches: Army extras gathered on Dunkirk beach again on Wednesday as the cast of new film Dunkirk recreated scenes from the famous Operation Dynamo in 1940

Directing the drama: Filmmaker Christopher Nolan was hands on throughout the shoot, leading his cast of extras along the beach front

Explosive scenes: With a petrol shortage across France the film crew had a good supply to burn for their stunts and special effects on the beach as the black smoke covered the town of Dunkirk for the first time in 76 years

Hollywood invades: A French T-47 Class Destroyer was seen circling the coastline that afternoon

Moody scenes: The soldiers lined up on the beaches during a dull day in Northern France to create an authentic atmosphere

A spokesman for the film said: 'Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.'

Today as the cameras began rolling Nolan's camera crew set up beneath rain proof covers and ensured they kept warm in hoodies and fleeces while the army of extras battled with heavy equipment, replica guns and hats.

Keeping warm: Dunkirk tells the story of the Dunkirk evacuation in between 26 May and 4 June 1940 under the supervision and mastermind of Vice-Admiral Bertram Ramsay

Code name: Operation Dynamo was the name given the master plan that saw over 338,000 troops rescued from the beaches

While the budget for the US blockbuster has not yet been confirmed director Christopher Nolan was previously given close to $150 million for each of his previous two big titles - The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar.

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

Nolan has written the screenplay and Dunkirk has been slated for worldwide release on July 21, 2017.

It was announced last week that Hollywood heavyweights Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance will also star.

Movie boss Harvey Weinstein previously expressed an interest in scouting Harry for his film, when he told The Sun: 'I’ve met him two or three times and he was very interested and charming. I think the guy is a movie star.

‘You know he’s a dashing rogue — a fun-loving, spirited kind of actor that used to be in England all the time. Like David Niven or Douglas Fairbanks, he’s got that vibe, he really does.’

Saved: Flotillas were sent in from Kent as the enemy approached the northern territory where British and French soldiers were gathered

Heading home: The soldiers were in need of serious help as invading Germany grew closer

Bolstering their numbers: Cardboard cut-outs were seen on the set in order to create the illusion of a larger army