Warfare at Bovingdon Airfield Studios
A collective memory of modern warfare and the bond between young soldiers, reconstructed in real time on screen
Directed by Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Ex Machina, Civil War) and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza, Warfare is a gripping, ultra-realistic and real-time depiction of a 2006 Navy SEAL mission that went wrong in Ramadi, Iraq. The film follows a platoon on a surveillance operation that rapidly unravels, depicting a harrowing, relentless, minute-by-minute view of war - filmed using extended takes and life-size fully constructed sets. Based on true events and created from the memories of the SEALs who lived them, Warfare presents a rare kind of authenticity on screen, filmed in its entirety with us at Bovingdon Airfield Studios in 2024.
Starring Charles Melton, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, and Kit Connor among other brilliant actors, the film assembles a powerful ensemble of young talent to embody the raw intensity and emotional truth of the mission.
"We made this film... as a reminder to the people who make the decisions to go to war that there are people who will answer that call so others don’t have to – and it’s usually the youth..."
- Ray Mendoza
The real Ramadi mission
The real operation that inspired Warfare took place in November 2006. A group of Navy SEALs, joined by two Iraqi scouts and two Marines, entered Ramadi on a covert mission to provide overwatch for incoming ground troops. The team, split into three operations, faced catastrophic challenges when they unknowingly positioned themselves next to an Al Qaeda stronghold. A grenade attack and subsequent IED explosion left key team members wounded, including medic and sniper Elliott Miller, sparking a desperate effort to evacuate. The events that followed became the emotional and narrative backbone of the film, also created to help give Elliott - years later - the chance to see, understand, and experience what happened and how he was ultimately saved.
"It’s a tribute from Ray (Mendoza) to Elliott, so he could see what happened to him"
- Charles Melton, who plays Officer in Charge Jake Wayne of the second Ramadi operation
A film rooted in real memory
The production of Warfare is as bold as its narrative. Mendoza's collaboration with Garland began during the production of Civil War, where he worked as a battle scene consultant. When Mendoza shared his recollection of Ramadi and Elliott Miller, it sparked the genesis of Warfare. Drawing directly from the memories of Mendoza and fellow SEALs who served in Ramadi in 2006, the film avoids all stylisation or embellishment. The storytelling approach was “forensic”: transcribing moment-by-moment multi-layered recollections from those involved in minute detail, shaping a screenplay staunchly faithful to the real events. The resulting script was not a story - it was a collective memory.
"Reality doesn’t let people off the hook; when things are tough, there isn’t a dissolve or a cut or some music to cheer you up... you remain in that state until circumstances relieve you from pressure or the moment, and that’s what Warfare does - it adheres to reality, not the reassurances of cinema.”
- Alex Garland
Forging brotherhood on and off screen
Warfare features a talented cast, but the film’s emotional weight also lies in the strong bond they built during pre-production and which then carried them throughout the shoot. The actors trained together during a rigorous three-week-long military-style bootcamp before filming began. Under Mendoza’s guidance, they completed intense physical, psychological and tactical training modelled on real SEAL preparation, from weapons handling to casualty drills.
This immersive experience built genuine trust and rapport between the cast, shaping performances that felt lived rather than acted. They learned to communicate using genuine military terminology, and a hierarchy reflecting SEAL command structures was established, allowing them to embody their roles more naturally.
“It’s one organism, rather than a selection of characters – you watch them navigate something going terribly awry and how their brotherhood and camaraderie gets them out.”
- Joseph Quinn, who plays Sam - the LPO based on Joe Hildebrand
Recreating Ramadi: The power of place
Central to Warfare’s authenticity is its unique filming location – Bovingdon Airfield Studios. The entire film was shot with us here at Bovingdon, where our Control Tower Backlot was transformed into a sprawling, life-size replica of Ramadi. Production designers Mark Digby and Michelle Day constructed 12 buildings arranged in a T-shape to replicate the exact original urban landscape. In addition, the apartment building at the heart of the film was also built in full.
“Their job was to build as much as possible the structures that existed during the actual mission. By shooting quickly, and limiting the number of shooting days we had, we were able to build a set at a certain scale that replicated an entire city street.”
- Alex Garland
Having the life-size complete physical structures and builds allowed for 360-degree filming with minimal digital enhancement, offering continuous and unrestricted camera movement through extended takes - sometimes lasting up to 15 minutes.
“Long extended takes allowed us to float through spaces where people are doing things concurrently - we could pick up realistic details you cannot script... the actors were yawning, flexing, or scratching the back of their heads. What we captured was a sort of semi-reality."
- Alex Garland
The practical sets enabled an immersive filming experience that blurred the line between reality and performance. Realism was heightened through ambient sound pumped onto set via PA systems, chronological shooting, and the use of real explosions and mortar pots - all made possible by Bovingdon’s vast 60-acre backlot and secluded location.
Veterans on set: a living memory
To add to the realism yet further, Mendoza invited members of his original SEAL team – including Elliott Miller – to participate during filming. Their presence deepened the cast’s commitment and provided an emotional and professional anchor for the production. Thus, Warfare finally enabled Miller, who lost consciousness during the mission, to finally experience what he’d never seen or known at the time.
A testimonial from the Production Team
Line Producer Charlie Reed highlighted the value of the location:
“Setting up the entire production of Warfare at Bovingdon was an excellent choice for us. The site has the backlot space required for our large exterior build of an Iraqi street plus good size workshops for departments. Given the nature of our film with tanks and gunfire and lots of moving parts with a large cast, Bovingdon accommodated us well and we never had any issues with the activities we had going on. The cast had a significant bootcamp training period with weapons training and the site afforded us the space and privacy to achieve this safely. What really shone through was the lovely cooperation of the team at Bovingdon who really looked after us with our multiple requests. The stages were excellent and useful for some VFX element and publicity shoots. Would happily recommend Bovingdon and hope to return soon.”
- Charlie Reed, Line Producer
Critical acclaim
Since its UK release on April 18, Warfare has garnered widespread acclaim, with critics praising the film's visceral realism and immersive storytelling. The Guardian described it as "the most forceful and unflinching depiction of combat since Edward Berger's 2023 Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front". Rotten Tomatoes reports a 93% approval rating of 215 critics’ reviews, highlighting the film's powerful evocation of the primal terror of conflict. Audiences have also responded positively, marking it as one of A24's highest-rated releases to date.
The team at Bovingdon Airfield Studios is delighted to see Warfare resonate so strongly with both critics and audiences. Having seen our Control Tower Backlot transformed over so many months into such a meticulously detailed replica of Ramadi, we're delighted to have hosted a film that not only pushes the boundaries of war cinema but also honours the real-life experiences of those who served. We feel this particularly strongly given our own history as a serving WW2 airfield, and the film's positive reception underscores the dedication and authenticity that went into bringing this powerful story to the screen.
All photos, quotes and behind-the-scenes details kindly provided by DNA Films & A24
Press Links
For more insight into the making of Warfare at Bovingdon Airfield Studios, explore the following articles, which offer a further look at the production of this landmark film:
