Will Poulter Was Disappointed That Alex Garland Was Making A War Film. Why He Decided To Take On The Project Anyway

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The movie titled “Warfare” deviates from typical war movies as it’s inspired by real-life experiences (shared by co-director Ray Mendoza). Instead, it aims to offer a genuine portrayal of its subject matter, eschewing conventional cinematic tropes. In my four-star review for TopMob, I describe it as an unusual yet captivating film worth watching – even attracting the attention of actor Will Poulter who generally avoids war-themed projects.

In the video you see, Will Poulter recounted his initial encounter with director Alex Garland during the press events for the movie Warfare last month. This wasn’t your typical junket interview story. He shared that he was already a fan of the filmmaker before their meeting, but discussing his new project with him turned out to be quite a thrilling ride, according to Poulter.

At our initial encounter with Alex, I was filled with excitement. However, when I learned it was a war film, a slight disappointment washed over me because I wasn’t particularly keen on participating in one. But once I understood the goal – to add to the body of war films by creating something raw, devoid of conventional Hollywood storytelling elements such as score, fictionalization, and instead offering a literal, apolitical, and objective representation of real events… I was completely hooked. In hindsight, I should have anticipated that Alex Garland would not settle for anything less than this unconventional approach.

Alex Garland, who has made significant waves in genre cinema with films like Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, and Civil War, might have been discussing a new science-fiction or horror concept with actor Will Poulter. However, unlike his previous works, the project called Warfare is remarkably grounded, which caught Poulter’s interest as a role he wished to be involved in.

In the upcoming 2025 movie, Will Poulter shines with an exceptional performance, yet he’s joined by a powerhouse cast that includes D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Ray Mendoza, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Michael Gandolfini, Noah Centineo, Joseph Quinn, Henry Zaga, and Charles Melton. The intriguing take on the film alone might have been attractive, but undoubtedly being a part of such an impressive ensemble was too.

During the whirlwind of interviews at the Warfare press day, I (Kit Connor) found myself captivated by the script’s unique narrative structure. It struck me as a compact, compelling short film that held immense promise for a larger, more immersive story.

Initially, upon reading the script, it struck me as though I was delving into a compact cinematic tale – more akin to a brief, captivating short movie than a feature-length film. This is a common trait with many short films, as they grapple with the constraint of time and often opt for a more immersive portrayal of a specific moment or mood instead of a traditional narrative structure. The script seems to follow this pattern, aiming to create a vivid snapshot of time rather than a conventional beginning, middle, and end.

Warfare isn’t structured like a typical three-act play because it aims to portray authenticity. Instead, it could be seen as a cinematic lens through which we view the harsh realities and struggles of its characters during a tumultuous period.

Connor continued,

This piece isn’t aiming to structure a traditional narrative with a beginning, middle, end, or climax. Instead, it’s simply trying to narrate an hour and a half’s worth of events without any extra details or dramatic flair. It’s quite unusual, unlike anything I’ve read in a script before. frankly, I found it remarkably bold as a filmmaking attempt, which made it quite thrilling.

In line with what his fellow actor had said, Cosmo Jarvis emphasized that the commitment to authenticity and precision in the script extended beyond just the written word. Directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza also demonstrated this meticulous approach during the film’s production.

Initially, the focus on details was evident in the script itself. However, as we delved deeper into the particular scenes, our attention shifted and intensified, primarily zeroing in on Alex and Ray, second by second.

After several weeks of creating anticipation and excitement, the movie “Warfare” is set to premiere in theaters nationwide this coming Friday, distributed by A24. Don’t forget to check back here on TopMob for additional insights from our exclusive interviews with the film’s impressive cast members.

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2025-04-11 23:37