Movie buffs and action fans listen up! There's a new war film coming that sounds seriously intense and it's called Warfare . This is not your typical Hollywood war flick though. We are talking boots-on-the-ground visceral stuff directed by Alex Garland of Civil War fame and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza. And get this the cast went through some wild stuff to get ready for it.
Brotherhood Before Bullets: Kit Connor and Warfare Cast Bond Over Shaved Heads
So apparently before filming even started the cast of Warfare wanted to create a real sense of brotherhood you know like actual military units do. And their idea for bonding? Shaving each other's heads! Yep you heard that right. Kit Connor the Heartstopper star and other actors like D'Pharoah Woon-A-Tai Will Poulter and Michael Gandolfini all grabbed the razors and went to town on each other's hair.
Connor mentioned it felt "ritualistic" and made them feel instantly "vulnerable" with each other. He said it was like they immediately had each other's backs. These guys didn't just shave heads though. They went all in. They trained together ate together pretty much lived in each other's pockets for two whole months before cameras even started rolling. Talk about commitment!
The cast is stacked too. Besides the guys who shaved their heads you have Joseph Quinn from Stranger Things Charles Melton Cosmo Jarvis and a bunch more talented actors. Connor believes this real bond they created will really show on screen and that there's a genuine "love" between them. Sounds like they went beyond just acting and became a real unit.
Real Memories Real Intensity: Warfare Based on True Soldier Experiences in Iraq
What makes Warfare different? It is based on actual events and memories from soldiers who served in Ramadi Iraq in 2006. Ray Mendoza one of the directors is not just a filmmaker he is an Iraq War veteran himself and was a Navy SEAL for 17 years. This movie is deeply personal for him. It is adapted from his own memories and interviews with guys he served with.
Mendoza teamed up with Alex Garland who co-directed and co-wrote the film. Garland is known for intense and realistic movies like Civil War and 28 Days Later. They are aiming for something super authentic and "visceral" like you are right there with the SEALs on the ground.
The movie is about a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission that goes wrong in a dangerous part of Iraq. It is supposed to be a "boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare and brotherhood" told in "real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it". No made-up drama or Hollywood fluff just raw intensity based on real experiences. Even Garland said they avoided "inventions creations or alterations" and tried to recreate exactly what happened including "the air between moments". That sounds pretty powerful.
Get Ready to Immerse Yourself: Warfare Offers Early IMAX Screenings
Want to experience Warfare in the most intense way possible? A24 and IMAX are giving fans a chance to see it early in IMAX theaters starting April 9th before it hits regular cinemas on April 11th and Australia on April 17th. They are really pushing the "immersive" and "visceral" aspects of this movie saying it "must be experienced in theaters to get the full effect."
They even released a new IMAX trailer to get everyone hyped up. It shows more footage of the film's action and intensity. With a real-time storytelling approach and veteran direction Warfare sounds like it could be a truly unforgettable and maybe even overwhelming cinematic experience especially in IMAX. If you want to feel like you are in the middle of the action this might be the movie to see on the biggest screen possible.
Key Players in Warfare: Cast List You Need to Know
Want to know who to watch out for in Warfare? Here's a rundown of the main cast:
- D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai: Known from Reservation Dogs Woon-A-Tai plays a soldier and also portrays co-director Ray Mendoza in the film.
- Will Poulter: Poulter of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 fame is part of the SEAL team.
- Cosmo Jarvis: From Shōgun Jarvis plays a soldier named Elliot who is central to the story as the film is based on his fragmented memories.
- Kit Connor: The Heartstopper star dives into a very different role in this film.
- Joseph Quinn: Another Stranger Things alum Quinn is also part of the cast.
- Charles Melton: Known for May December Melton joins the ensemble.
- Finn Bennett, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Adain Bradley, Noah Centineo, Evan Holtzman, Henrique Zaga: Rounding out the cast these actors play various members of the Navy SEAL platoon.
This cast is packed with rising stars and established talent all coming together to tell a powerful and realistic war story.
Get Ready for a Raw and Real War Movie Experience
If you are looking for a war movie that goes beyond typical action flicks and dives into the gritty reality of combat Warfare sounds like it could be exactly that. With its veteran director intense real-time storytelling and dedicated cast this film is promising a visceral and immersive experience. Whether you catch it in IMAX early or wait for the general release Warfare is definitely one to watch if you want a raw unflinching look at modern military brotherhood and the realities of war.