Gary Oldman Discusses Becoming Churchill and Possible Follow-Up to “Darkest Hour”

Oscar winner Gary Oldman (Sirius Black) has already been considering a follow-up to his acclaimed role in Darkest Hour, but this time, the story would not only feature Churchill but also be written by the man himself!

From among the many pieces of literature Churchill published, Oldman is interested in adapting his short story “The Dream,” which features Churchill’s father’s ghost, Randolph, visiting his son, for the theater. This would mark Oldman’s return to the stage after 20 years.

Speaking at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, Oldman goes into great depth detailing the effort he puts into every role, focusing on the need for actors to do their homework so that they truly understand their characters.

Even with the benefit of the truly transformational makeup we reported on earlier this year, Churchill was no exception to this rule.

I could hone it down to an area of his life. And what I discovered… the revelation to me was that he was energized, dynamic, cheeky, a twinkle in the eye, very cherubic. A powerhouse. And that was the key to unlock him for me. That he wasn’t this curmudgeon, grumpy man [who] had been born in a bad mood, [who] shuffled around. He was a dynamo.

As an actor, Oldman admits his dedication to his roles can come at a cost to his family, but the morning after his Oscar win, Oldman celebrated with his family and a pot of tea.

The real prize is having your family with you to celebrate. Acting is a selfish passion because there are times when they lose out. You’re physically there, but your head is elsewhere.

During the interview, Oldman even referenced his work as Sirius Black as one of the hardest roles he’d ever played.

You’ve got plot. And you’ve got to make it character. You’ve got to give it character. But you’ve got an 800-page book, and you’ve got two and a half hours.

Oldman further mentioned the potential for a direct sequel to Darkest Hour following Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt at the 1945 Yalta Summit after the Second World War, though this has yet to pass the idea stage.