Inside the Making of “Warfare”: How England Became Iraq for a Day of Battle
The war film Warfare, co-directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, follows the savagery of one 24-hour period during 2006’s Battle of Ramadi. Though the action plays out in Iraq, the movie was shot entirely in England, where a painstakingly re-created set approximated the rubble-strewn streets of Ramadi.
This article looks at how the filmmakers transformed a village in Hertfordshire into a convincing battleground. Between meticulous set design and performances imbued with emotions, military–grade boot camps, and all the painstakingly recreated vehicles, Warfare makes apparent that it is a unique space between authenticity and cinematic art designed to honor real soldiers.
We will also examine why filming in Bovingdon made more sense than going abroad and how the production team used every possible source, from satellite imagery to firsthand accounts of dogfights, to get it right.
Rebuilding Ramadi In England
Warfare follows a single day in the Iraq War for a group of Navy SEALs occupying a house in Ramadi. Never mind that, rather than hitting film screens in the Middle East, the film was shot in Bovingdon Airfield Studios, Hertfordshire, England. The studio was built on a former World War II airfield, allowing the directors to recreate a life-size replica of the real battle site. The streets, the buildings, even sniper holes, were patterned after actual photographs and data.
Alex Garland detailed why the team chose to construct the location from the ground up. Instead of applying real Iraqi or North African cities, they needed absolute control over their details.
Collages of satellite images from Google Earth, photographs from soldiers, and military reports were used to reconstruct the neighborhood where the SEALs fought digitally. Every detail, whether it involved the colour of the curtains or the positioning of the bloodstains, ensured that the depiction was as accurate to life and as respectful of the events as possible.
A Studio Made For Stories Of War
The shooting venue – Bovingdon Airfield Studios – is used to the roar of furious battle. Home to productions such as 1917 and Fury, the 100-acre complex boasts more than 100,000 square feet of sound stages and a 60-acre backlot. The space allowed the Warfare team to meticulously recreate the neighborhood in Ramadi, complete with 13 buildings.
Bovingdon wasn’t just space, however. It provided the crew with the flexibility to shoot high-action combat scenes in a safe, effective way. The campus will bring together a production workshop, runways, and digital studios, enabling maximum practical effects.
Green and blue screens were employed minimally, and most scenes were shot using actual sets and props. It was an approach that left the film with a gritty, grounded feel that was essential to doing the real-life soldiers whose stories inspired the movie justice.
Real Veterans, Real Emotion
One of the film’s directors, Ray Mendoza, was a member of the military unit depicted in the movie. His background lent a compelling layer of truth to the story. On set, Mendoza leaned heavily on Elliott Miller, the sniper and medic on the unit, to ensure everything was authentic.
One scene was so emotional that both men cried, an example of how much the film meant to them personally. To add verisimilitude, the filmmakers found as many platoon veterans as possible.
They used firsthand accounts to reconstruct that day’s setting, emotions, fears, and relationships. These conversations and recollections helped ensure that each moment on screen was rooted in truth. It wasn’t about dramatizing war but about mirroring its brutal facts.
Training Like Navy SEALs
The Warfare cast didn’t just play soldiers; they trained like them. The actors endured a 3.5-week boot camp, an abbreviated version of the Navy SEALs’ brutal BUD/S program. The training taught them how to handle weapons, communicate under fire, and work as a team.
Cast member Aaron Mackenzie, a former Royal Marine, described the experience as bonding and brutal. He said that exercising, doing weapons drills, and tactics together created genuine camaraderie among the cast. That link made their routines seem more authentic. The boot camp was crucial to making the battle scenes not only look real but feel real on an emotional level.
War Machines And 2006 Details
It was essential to get the gear right because the story is set in 2006. The team brought in military vehicles from the U.S. and altered them to look period-appropriate. M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles received armor plates, new gun barrels, and deployable ramps. The costumes and props were also designed to match the uniforms and weaponry of that year.
The emphasis was on accuracy, not glamor. Everything, from the vehicles to the weapons, was intended to represent what was being used by soldiers in 2006. It was an effort to depict war as it truly is, not a movie-fied, stylized version.” That choice helped the movie remain respectful to the memory of those who fought in Ramadi.
Bovingdon Was The Right Choice
Filming in Bovingdon gave them peace and quiet and allowed them to do as they wished. They could construct every structure from the ground up, shoot without interruptions, and pivot rapidly. A real war zone or foreign country would add risks and limit creativity.
The place was also a logistical asset. We had the opportunity to do everything under one roof—set design, sound, all of the departments.” That made it cheaper and more efficient to film. The potential to simulate history in a laboratory scenario enabled Warfare to narrate its tale with punch and accuracy.
FAQs
Where was Warfare filmed?
It was shot entirely in Bovingdon, England, on Bovingdon Airfield Studios.
Is Warfare a true story?
Yes, it is inspired by the true story of Nov. 19, 2006, during the Battle of Ramadi in Iraq.
Who assisted with the film from among real-life veterans?
Yes, director Ray Mendoza and the actual event participants were invaluable.
Why didn’t they shoot in the Middle East?
For safety, environmental control, and constructability, create a physical duplicate of the set.
Was there military training for the actors?
Yes, the cast underwent a three-and-a-half-week boot camp based on SEAL training.
Final Words
Warfare isn’t just notable for its pulse-pounding action and its commitment to truth. By shooting in England and relying on first-person military accounts, the film’s crews paid tribute to the story’s real-life heroes. Each set, scene, and emotion was thoughtfully designed to depict war as it really is. This isn’t a movie about blowing things up for glory but about sacrifice, memory, and brotherhood.
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