A24's Iraq-set Warfare shoots at Bovingdon
The upcoming film Warfare, set to release on 11 April 2025, offers a visceral depiction of a harrowing 2006 Iraq War mission involving a platoon of Navy SEALs. Co-directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alex Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza, the movie aims to immerse audiences in the intense realities of modern combat.To capture the stark authenticity of the battlefield, Warfare was filmed at Bovingdon Airfield Studios in Hertfordshire.
The ensemble cast features notable talents such as Kit Connor, Charles Melton, Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai. To authentically represent the camaraderie and physicality of Navy SEALs, the actors participated in an intensive three-and-a-half-week boot camp. This training regimen included early morning drills, weapons handling, and tactical exercises designed to forge a genuine bond among the cast members.
“This was an unusual process and not like any other writing job I’ve been involved with before,” said Garland, whose screenplays include 28 Days Later, Ex Machina, and Annihilation, as well as several acclaimed novels. “This film is specifically not editorialising — it’s not the job of the filmmakers to make those kinds of decisions because it is from the perspective of the people who experienced the memories. If there was a memory of something happening and the memory could be verified, it went into the story. That’s the goal of this movie — to listen to the people who were able to impart their memories and recount their stories.”
Bovingdon Airfield Studios, located near London, has become a prominent filming destination in recent years. The studio offers over 100 acres of versatile production facilities, including state-of-the-art sound stages and expansive backlots, making it suitable for feature films, high-end TV productions, and commercials. Notable productions filmed at Bovingdon Airfield Studios in the past three years include the Apple TV+ drama Masters of the Air, which utilised the site's historical significance as a former RAF airfield to depict World War II air force scenes. Additionally, the second season of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was filmed there after the production relocated from New Zealand to the UK. The studio has also hosted popular television shows such as ITV's "Dancing on Ice" and "The Masked Singer," benefiting from its purpose-built facilities and ample space for live audiences. These productions highlight Bovingdon Airfield Studios' growing reputation as a versatile and sought-after filming location.
Warfare unfolds in real-time, chronicling a surveillance mission in Ramadi that escalated into a life-and-death struggle against al-Qaeda insurgents. This narrative approach immerses viewers directly into the action, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the chaos and stakes of modern warfare. The storyline is rooted in Mendoza's firsthand experiences, providing an intimate perspective on the challenges faced by soldiers on the ground.
Image courtesy of A24
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