Huge WW2 blockbuster finally gets UK streaming release date – after skipping cinemas

British fans are finally going to get to watch Guy Ritchie’s new film (Picture: Daniel Smith/Prime Video)

The delayed UK release date for a massive World War Two blockbuster has finally been announced and, despite its star-studded cast led by Henry Cavill and huge director, it’s skipping cinemas and heading straight to streaming.

Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare was released in the US back on April 19, but the UK was left in the dark as to when fans would be able to watch it over here.

That’s also despite the fact that the movie tells a distinctly British story about WWII and the early origins of what would go on to inspire the SAS, the special forces unit of the British Army.

It has now been confirmed that the British and Irish public will finally be able to watch The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare next month, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video.

Based upon recently declassified files of the British War Department and inspired by true events, the film tells the story of the first-ever special forces organisation formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of military officials, including author Sir Ian Fleming – who later went on to create world-famous British spy James Bond.

The top-secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly ‘ungentlemanly’ fighting techniques.

Henry Cavill leads the cast as real-life special forces officer Gus March-Phillips (Picture: Daniel Smith)

Ritchie directed The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, with it releasing in the US in April but no simultaneous release was available for the UK (Picture: Getty)

Their audacious approach was credited with ultimately changing the course of the war, as well as laying the foundation for the British SAS and modern Black Ops warfare.

Until now, UK fans had had to patiently watch the film – released in the US by Lionsgate – hit cinemas stateside two months ago, before being released for streaming on premium video on demand services on May 10.

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And all without a whiff of when we would get our chance to finally see it.

Now it’s been announced that The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare will be streaming exclusively on Prime Video from July 25 in the UK and Ireland.

The Gentlemen’s Ritchie directs Cavill among a cast including Reacher’s Alan Ritchson, Henry Golding, Eiza González, Alex Pettyfer and Hero Fiennes Tiffin.

The film was so British it was launched in London by Ritchie, the cast and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (L) in front of HMS Belfast in March (Picture: Getty)

Alex Pettyfer is among the cast for this action-comedy about one of the most daring missions of WW2 (Picture: Daniel Smith)

Babs Olusanmokun, Henrique Zaga, Til Schweiger and Cary Elwes round out the headline actors.

Cavill plays real-life special forces officer Gus March-Phillips in the action-comedy movie, which takes its name from the 2015 book written by historian and war reporter Damien Lewis.

The trailer also saw Ritchie’s distinct style and flair in full swing, featuring explosive action, gunfights, swearing and swagger – all soundtracked to Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust. Naturally.

It may be a period film, but Ritchie has packed it with as much action and one-liners as ever (pictured: Babs Olusanmokun) (Picture: Daniel Smith)

UK fans can now watch the movie on Prime Video from next month (pictured: Henry Golding) (Picture: Daniel Smith)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare currently has a decent 70% fresh rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes from 134 critics, with it being praised for making sure ‘the old Ritchie blueprint endures’.

However, others criticised the Sherlock filmmaker for ‘playing it stuff’.

The film boasts a massive 93% audience score from thousands of fans though, so it’s likely to continue to be highly anticipated.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare will stream exclusively on Prime Video in the UK from July 25.

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