A couple of years since winning the Best Actor Oscar for his role as King George VI in the award-winning biopic The King’s Speech, Colin Firth has been taking things easy with his film work which has consisted of recent roles in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and Gambit (2012).

But the British actor looks certain to return to award-worthy form with his upcoming role in the war drama The Railway Man. Screened to critics a few days ago at the Toronto Film Festival, the film has released its official trailer.

Adapted from the novel of British officer Eric Lomax, it focuses on the man’s gruelling experience in a prisoner of war camp in Singapore during World War II. After returning home years later, he struggled to overcome the trauma he endured and through support from his devoted wife, decided to return to the country to confront one of his captors.

Fellow Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman (Eyes Wide Shut, The Hours) portrays Lomax’s wife with further support coming from Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, Great Expectations) as the young Eric and Stellan Skarsgård (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Avengers) as Lomax’s friend.

The film is directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (Burning Man) and written by Liverpool Hope professor Frank Cottrell Boyce (24 Hour Party People, Millions).

It will be released in cinemas on January 4th 2014.