Interview by Paul Salfen, Text by Christine Thompson for AMFM Magazine
In the tense 72 hours before the largest seaborne invasion in history, a meteorologist and a general faced an impossible choice. Launch now, or risk losing the war. That real-life drama powers PRESSURE, the new WWII thriller directed by Anthony Maras, starring Andrew Scott as Dr. James Stagg and Brendan Fraser as General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
AMFM Magazine’s Paul Salfen sat down with Maras to discuss the film, and the director’s passion for the material was unmistakable from the start. “A wonderful pulse” Maras reflected in the conversation, describing the electric feeling of watching two powerhouse actors bring his script to life. “There were so many times when I was kind of pinching myself on this movie.”
From Stage to Screen: An Unsung Hero’s Story
The extraordinary true story began as a 2012 stage play by actor-playwright David Haig, who shone a light on the little-known Scottish meteorologist James Stagg. Stagg’s courageous weather forecast—defying the optimism of other experts—proved decisive in Eisenhower’s call to proceed with D-Day on June 6, 1944. After successful runs in Edinburgh, London, and Toronto, producers at STUDIOCANAL and Working Title saw cinematic gold. Maras, fresh off the acclaimed Hotel Mumbai, came aboard to co-write, direct, and edit, drawn to themes that feel urgent today.
“I was utterly captivated by this unknown story of unsung heroes,” Maras told AMFM. “A lot of people came together to defeat Nazi Germany on D-Day, and the deciding factor, of all things, was their ability to decipher the hidden patterns governing nature itself.” He emphasized the story’s relevance: “It may be set during wartime, but at heart it’s about how we make the toughest decisions of our lives… speaking truth to power, having the courage to stand by your convictions.”
Crafting Tension from an Invisible Threat
Creating visceral suspense around a slow-moving weather system—rather than a visible monster or gunman—presented Maras with his biggest challenge. “How do you create the atmosphere of absolute wire-type tension, when really the threat that these characters are facing is not something that you can directly see or feel?” he explained. The solution lay in deep character work, meticulous writing, and powerhouse performances. “I think it’s in the writing. I think it’s in the acting in a big way and the underlying story.”
Shooting in England during autumn while depicting a heatwave added logistical pressure, but Maras embraced it. “The big challenge for me in this film was… creating that sense of momentum and tension for something that is quite cerebral.” The British weather itself cooperated in near-miraculous fashion, echoing the story’s central drama.
Leadership Lessons for Today
Maras hopes audiences leave PRESSURE reflecting on leadership under uncertainty. Eisenhower, he notes, “cared very deeply about his men, but also about the opinions of the experts that surrounded him… [and]had the wisdom to admit when he was wrong.” Stagg represents another vital archetype: “someone who’s willing to tell his superiors what they need to hear, even if he knows they don’t want to hear it.”
The film also underscores humanity’s relationship with nature. “Nature is obviously the biggest force there is… having a character who can kind of see through the matrix code of nature and who can be the canary in the coal mine… I think there’s power in that.”
A Dream Cast Delivers
Maras couldn’t hide his admiration for his leads. Of Andrew Scott: “He’s able to do very little and be fascinating to watch. I got the sense that what Stagg was to the field of meteorology, Andrew is to acting. They’re both masters.” On Brendan Fraser: “Brendan brings a real complexity and vulnerability to a leader who was more multidimensional than you might expect.”
The ensemble—including Kerry Condon as Kay Summersby and Damian Lewis as Bernard Montgomery—created “such a beautiful energy. All of them together.” Maras emphasized collaboration as key: “Filmmaking is not painting. You’re not locked in a room somewhere with your canvas. Your canvas is the world, and it’s painted by your collective cast and crew together.”
Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
When asked what guidance he’d offer those wanting to follow his path, Maras kept it straightforward yet profound: “You’ve got to find a story that you love that you need to tell because it’s hard to make movies… And the last thing is really important: pick really good people to work with.” He also stressed preparation: co-writing the script and mentally directing it dozens of times before cameras rolled helped him stay present with actors while knowing he’d shape it all in the edit.
Why See It on the Big Screen
PRESSURE transforms a pivotal, often-overlooked corner of history into a taut, intimate thriller that expands to epic scale—thanks to meticulous production design at locations like Mentmore Towers, authentic period details, colorized archival footage, and expert meteorological consultation. It’s a film about courage, truth, leadership, and the raw power of nature that demands to be experienced in a theater.
As Maras told AMFM at the close of their conversation: “We’re going to tell everyone to see it on the big screen as it is meant to be seen.”
PRESSURE is a timely reminder that sometimes the greatest storms are the ones we cannot see—until someone brave enough stands up and reads the weather correctly. Don’t miss it.
