When director Christopher Nolan's latest movie was announced, the idea was that mostly unknowns would make up the main cast. That may not necessarily be true, as the WWII epic Dunkirk has possibly locked in one of this generation's biggest stars. And it's a casting announcement that will surely surprise some of Christopher Nolan's most hardcore fans. The iconic filmmaker behind The Dark Knight trilogy is rumored to have recruited One Direction singer and certified heartthrob Harry Styles to help lead his army of young soldiers in this true-life tale.

Warner Bros. hasn't confirmed that Harry Styles has signed on for the movie quite yet, with Deadline breaking what is only considered a hot rumor at the moment. But the pop star-turned-serious actor has boarded the project according to numerous sources close to the production. The actor's role is not believed to be the main lead. But that can't be confirmed, as all plot and casting details are being kept under heavy lock and key.

What is known about Dunkirk is that it revolves around an actual event that took place during World War II, centering on the intense evacuation of Dunkirk in May through June of 1940. Dubbed 'Operation Dynamo', this mission had the British military saving over 330,000 Allied soldiers who were trapped in the harbor and surrounded by the German army. It was describes as a miracle of deliverance by Winston Churchill.

The main cast of soldiers sitting on the front lines of this drama are said to be all mostly unknowns (with the obvious exception of Harry Styles). The secondary cast is an ensemble of heavy hitters that includes Christopher Nolan regular Tom Hardy, recent Oscar winner Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh. The movie is being shot on IMAX 65mm and 65mm Large-Format film, and will likely play in some of the same 70mm projector equipped theaters that Quentin Tarantino helped set up for his The Hateful Eight Roadshow this past December.

This isn't the first time Harry Styles has been eyed for a movie role. Harvey Weinstein offered the singer a part in Tulip Fever, which stars Alicia Vikander, Christoph Waltz, Zach Galifianakis and Cara Delevingne. But the pop star turned the mega-producer down flat. One Direction is currently on hiatus. Styles is also rumored to be mulling over a key role in Scream Queens Season 2. But if he takes on Dunkirk, that won't happen. If he does join Christopher Nolan's WWII drama, it will mark his feature film debut.

Christopher Nolan and his co-producer and partner Emma Thomas have been conducting an extensive casting search for the soldiers that will make up the young, main cast. Harry Styles is said to have greatly impressed the director with his reading for the part. Dunkirk already has a release date set for July 21, 2017. At this time, no one associated with the project will say anything further about the movie's casting. What do you think? Are you ready to see Harry Styles trapped in the trenches of World War II?