Andrew Scott stars in WWII thriller ‘Pressure’ about D-Day meteorology

The film ‘Pressure’, directed by Anthony Maras and based on David Haig’s play, depicts the high-stakes meteorological decisions leading up to the D-Day landings in World War II. Andrew Scott stars as James Stagg, a Scottish meteorologist who provides crucial, albeit unpopular, weather forecasts to Allied commanders.

In the film, Stagg (Scott) clashes with the military establishment, including General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Field Marshal Montgomery (Damien Lewis), by arguing that inclement weather necessitates a delay to Operation Overlord. He also faces opposition from Irving Krick (Chris Messina), an American meteorologist who relies on historical patterns rather than Stagg’s data-driven approach.

Scott has described the role of Stagg as playing an ‘unsung hero’ who possessed a ‘huge humility toward nature’ and was unafraid to speak truth to power despite being a ‘fish out of water’ in the military hierarchy.