The first image of Winston Churchill, as played by leading Scottish actor Brian Cox, has been released as filming begins on a new feature film in Scotland.

Cox plays the wartime Prime Minister in Churchill, in a war film set in 1944, in the 48 hours leading to D Day.

The actor said it was the "role of a lifetime" in a film being shot "across Scotland" including Edinburgh.

Cox said: "I am looking forward to bringing this iconic but complex figure to life- it’s the role of a lifetime for me and I’m so pleased to be taking this journey with both Jonathan and our great cast."

Made by Salon Pictures, the film sees the "wartime leader clash with his generals, tension builds with the Americans, and Churchill must wrestle his inner-demons in order to navigate the Allies to victory."

It is being directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and has been written by British historian and author Alex von Tunzelmann in her feature debut,

Miranda Richardson plays Churchill's wife Clemmie Churchill, with John Slattery as General Eisenhower, James Purefoy as King George VI, and Ella Purnell as Churchill’s secretary.

Its producers - Nick Taussig and Paul Van Carter of Salon Pictures and Piers Tempest of Tempo Productions - said: "D-Day was one of the most important moments in twentieth-century world history.

"Telling the untold story of Churchill’s political and personal conflict through this time will show him in new, triumphant light, Alex’s script showing a very human side.

"We are honoured to have Brian Cox playing this great and complex man with director Jonathan Teplitzky bringing an intimate and cinematic prestige to the picture."

Producer and Financiers Claudia Bluemhuber and Ian Hutchinson from Silver Reel said: "After working with Jonathan Teplitzky on the Railway Man we are thrilled to be working him again with such a great team of producers as we well as Embankment Films."

Jonathan Teplitzky said: "I’m very excited and thrilled to be shooting Churchill. To work with Brian Cox and see him play such an icon will be an incredible experience. But also working with the rest of the cast and our wonderful crew is a real privilege as we strive together to make a great film

Natalie Usher, Director of Screen at Creative Scotland said: “We're absolutely thrilled to have Churchill shooting in Scotland and we’re proud to be supporting the film."