Chris Messina & Damian Lewis Join David Haig's PRESSURE Film

Actors Chris Messina and Damian Lewis have joined the cast of Pressure, the upcoming screen adaptation of David Haig's play, according to Deadline. In the film, they will play Colonel Irving P. Krick and British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, respectively. Tim Beckmann and Phil Cairn played the role of Krick in previous stage productions. Filming is currently underway.

As previously announced, Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott will play Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg in the D-Day drama, respectively, as they navigate the Normandy invasion of June 6, 1944. Kerry Condon will portray Captain Kay Summersby, the chauffeur and personal secretary to Dwight D. Eisenhower. The movie is directed by Anthony Maras from a screenplay he co-wrote with Haig. 

The stage version of Pressure made its world premiere at The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in 2014, with writer David Haig as Stagg. Following a successful UK Tour, the play transferred to the West End in 2018. Kevin Doyle of Downton Abbey starred in the 2023 North American premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

Messina's stage credits include productions of Far Away, The Seagull, and The Cherry Orchard. He has also appeared in numerous onscreen roles including in The Newsroom and The Mindy Project. Similarly, Damian Lewis has been seen in several television series including in Band of Brothers and Homeland. He has also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and on the West End.

Film Synopsis

In the 72 hours leading up to D-Day, all the pieces are in place except for one key element — the British weather. Britain’s Chief Meteorological Officer James Stagg is called upon to deliver the most consequential forecast in history, locking him into a tense standoff with the entire Allied leadership. The wrong conditions could devastate the largest-ever seaborne invasion, while any delay risks German intelligence catching on. With only his trusted aide Captain Kay Summersby to confide in, and haunted by a catastrophic D-Day rehearsal, the final decision rests with Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower. With only hours to go, the fate of the war and the lives of millions hang in the balance.