‘Warfare’ by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland.

After ‘Civil War’ did good at the box office, grossing $122.5 million on a $50 million budget, Alex Garland has again teamed up with A24 for another war related film titled “Warfare”, It stars Charles Melton (Riverdale), D’Pharoah Woon-A-tai and Joseph Quinn (Stranger things). Warfare will be directed by Garland and Ray Mendoza (ex-military and stunt performer), Mendoza and Garland will also write the script. this is their second collaboration, after Mendoza served as the military supervisor for Garland’s latest film ‘Civil War’. A24 will handle the global release of the film.

In February 2024, it was announced that A24 was developing a war film with Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland set attached, which would follow Garland’s film Civil War, the duo wrote the script for Warfare and planned to direct as well. in March 2024, D’pharoah Woon-A-tai was cast in the film to portray Mendoza himself. Deadline also reported that Kit Connor, Cosmo Jarvis, Will Poulter and Finn Bennett were added to the cast. in April, Noah Centineo, Taylor John Smith, Adain Bradley, Michael Gandolfini (James Gandolfini’s son), Henry Zaga and Evan Holtzman joined the cast.

Interestingly, in March, Garland announced his intentions to step back from directing films and focus on writing, while announcing that his directorial role in Warfare would be more of a supporting role to Mendoza’s. the film is reportedly based on ex-Navy Seal Ray Mendoza’s real-life experiences during the 2007 Iraq War. Principal photography began in May 2024 in London, England. most, if not all of these actors are currently undergoing military training at a Navy-Seal like boot camp, they are striving for authenticity with this pic and it’s always a good sign.

Much has been made about Alex Garland’s “Civil War” being the most expensive movie in A24’s history, it’s production was said to cost around $50 million. However there were reports that his next film ‘Warfare’, might be even more expensive. my best guess would be around $70-$80 million budget.

Alex Garland and A24 have always collaborated on the most thought intriguing projects like; 2015’s Ex Machina, 2022’s Men and his latest Civil War, so I’m excited for this one. no DOP or release date has been set yet by A24.