In Alex Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza's recent offering, "WARFARE", Evan Holtzman dominates the screen as ‘Brock’; a skilled sniper navigating the chaos of 2006 Iraq with extreme intensity and precision. 

Based on Mendoza’s real-life combat experience, Evan’s performance is steely, restrained, and deeply human as he shares the screen with a formidable cast anchoring the searing war drama. 

Starring alongside a powerhouse ensemble including Will Poulter, Noah Centineo, Kit Connor, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn and others- Holtzman channels a performance that honors the men who’ve lived this story and pays a powerful tribute to those who still carry it.

While audiences may recognize Evan from Netflix's "Hit Man", "Hidden Figures", and "Westworld", WARFARE marks a significant highlight in his career- one that demands both physical rigour and psychological nuance as he brings a unique amalgamation of raw tenacity and ferocious depth to the role. 

Evan Holtzman recently joined us to discuss all things WARFARE.

Hi there Evan. Thank you for joining us on ReVamp! How are you doing and how has 2025 been like for you so far? 

Thanks for having me!  I’m doing well.  Grateful to be busy, and happy to be here.

Beginning our interview, we have to mention your impeccable performance in the latest A24 offering "WARFARE"!  

Your character 'Brock'; a skilled sniper plays a crucial role within the project. 

I would love to know what it was initially that lured you towards this part, and what were your first impressions of your character? 

Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza did such a wonderful job with this script, and although all of the dialogue is geared towards the military operation at hand, there is an immense amount of emotional subtext they created in the white space.  That creative white space on the page is what always interests me in a character, and with Brock there was so much to explore.  I was initially drawn to Brock’s specific reaction to fear and how his differed from the others.  Brock charges after it, and if he could, he’d chase down fear and shove a grenade down its throat.  He’s got a “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” mentality, and although his tough love may be roughly timed in moments, he’d do anything for his SEAL brothers and he’s one of the best gunfighters to do it.

"WARFARE" is deeply rooted within the real experiences of Navy SEALs during the Iraq War, particularly in Ramadi. 

How did you as an actor approach the responsibility of portraying such an intricate character who was immensely inspired by those who served in such high-stakes and critical environments?

With a lot of humility and respect for these brave men.  Everything you see in this film is verified by the memory of the soldiers involved, and bringing the story to life was an incredible honor.  Our main focus was authenticity, and since we all play real-life people, there’s a lot of responsibility to the truth.  This event changed their lives, and so many around them forever.

Also, this is one story of unfortunately thousands and thousands of other similar events, so there was a responsibility to represent a lot of people.  Ultimately everyone showed up, knew the assignment, and gave it their all.  I’m proud of everyone involved and how it turned out. 

Your character, Brock, operates as a sniper—a role that demands an equal amalgamation of precision and psychological resilience; especially on the battleground under extreme pressure. 

Was there ever any specific kind of training or research route that you undertook in order to authentically embody someone with that kind of mindset and skill set? 

Anything we could possibly do to prepare pales in comparison to what the real guys endured with their actual training and combat.  That being said, Ray and Alex made it clear from the beginning that this wasn’t going to be an easy shoot.  There would be long days, long takes, quick resets, and rough conditions.  All of this just made me want it even more.  I love an immersive experience and was excited about the physical and emotional challenge.  

Alongside my own preparation, my focus was deep diving into books, documentaries, podcasts, and any other real accounts and footage I could find.  I loved spending time in this world and finding what I emotionally and physically connected with.  I believe that the psychological resilience that Brock had wasn’t anything special compared to the counterparts in his SEAL team.  All of these men were trained to operate at the tip of the spear.  How someone reacts to extreme pressure in a gunfight isn’t clear until it happens.  These guys trained for that pressure more than anyone, but it can still play out differently regardless of the fact that they all had the same extensive training.  We all put our hearts and souls into this one, and I believe it shows.

Given that WARFARE is based on real events and witnessing the film’s massive commitment to authenticity, did you interact with any veterans or soldiers to help portray your character? 

We actually had some of the real guys on set with us for the majority of the shoot.  Of course, Ray Mendoza was there the whole time, but some of his teammates from that day joined for various lengths as well.  Having them on set was an invaluable resource in so many ways.  They were there to help Ray recount the events from their memory and also assist us with anything from tactical questions to emotional beats.  I’m so grateful that they spent the time and energy to be with us.

Did you have any specific acting ritual that you loved immersing yourself into in order to get into the mindset of your character? 

I’ll always do a deep dive with research and character work, but aside from the more “normal” rituals, I’ve always loved the power of music.  I always create a playlist for my characters.  How they work out, meditate, walk the dog, clean the dishes, fight, cry.  After pouring a ton of energy into the work, it’s lovely to let it all go and trust that it’s there.  For me, music can help bring it back in its own colorful way.

What was it like working with Alex Garland and under the co-direction of Ray Mendoza, someone who not only served in the military but also lived through the very war depicted in this film? 

-Did his unique perspective shape the way you understood your role and brought out your performance?

It’s certainly always been a dream to work with Alex, but truly this movie couldn’t have been made the way it was without Ray’s expertise and vision.  Once in London, Ray put us through a three-week boot camp that gave us a crash course on everything from weapons handling, room clearing, communication, radio etiquette, tactical formations, and medical response.  When we weren’t at boot camp, we were doing everything else together which helped further strengthen the bond of camaraderie that you otherwise wouldn’t get on a film set.  This was all a part of Ray’s design, and it paid off immensely.  Aside from the technical work with weapons handling and tactics, Ray’s direction was clear and concise when giving us notes on scenes.  Not only had he lived this event, but he was a wonderful leader through the filmmaking process. 

There’s a strong sense of camaraderie that can be witnessed among the team in this film. I'm sure working alongside the brilliant D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn, and Kit Connor amongst many other talented individuals must be a thrilling experience for you! 

How did you and the ensemble cast cultivate that chemistry, both on-screen and off-set? And do you remember the first time you met your fellow castmates? 

Absolutely!  What a dream cast… these guys are incredible, and I could list something I learned from every single one of them.  When we all met each other for the first time at the hotel, I remember everyone smiling ear-to-ear with excitement for the road ahead.  I think we were all a little intimidated to meet one another initially, but quickly it was clear that everyone had dropped their ego to show up and do the job we were given.  We did everything together, and on the weekends, we would all head into London to explore the town.  The chemistry was absolutely real.  We became brothers by the end of this and even got matching tattoos.  For about five of us, including me, it was our first tattoo ever.

Do you have any memorable moments from this production be it on the set or off-set that were extremely meaningful or transformative for you? Or perhaps a favourite sequence? 

There are countless memories from this production, but I’ll give you two.  The first was when Elliott Miller arrived on set.  Elliott is played by Cosmo Jarvis in the film, and he is Ray’s best friend.  He is why Ray made this film.  Getting to see that initial reunion and just being there with Elliott during the days when I wasn’t shooting… there really aren’t words for how special that was.  The second was presenting an American flag to Alex.  The flag was carried by Ray in his backpack throughout production.  I helped fold the flag with one of Ray’s SEAL teammates, and being able to help Ray pass along that gift to Alex on our last day of shooting was a small moment in time, but a moment I’ll always cherish.  

The project has already been out for a few days and everywhere I look, I see nothing but immense appraise for it! 

I would love to know what kind of response you personally have received from your fans and supporters on your performance so far? Are you enjoying the reception you're currently garnering? 

It’s always wonderful to know that a project you’re a part of has an emotional connection to your audience, and this one seems to have struck a deep chord with so many people.  With this project, for me the most impactful support received has been from veterans and their families.  We made the film for the veteran community.  Of course, it’s been wonderful to hear that so many people are responding to the film so well, but the veteran community response has been the only review that ultimately matters.  It’s been fulfilling to know that we represented them well.

"Warfare" doesn't shy away from showcasing the harsh realities of war- including its consequences, the loss, the uncertainty, the complexities, and its brutality. 

Pertaining to this, what kind of message do you hope the audiences walk away with after watching this film and your performance?

War is a violent, catastrophic, and terrible kind of hell.  When the bullets start flying, politics are pushed aside and all that matters is to protect those to their left and right, and hope that everyone around them is doing the same.  The film is simply an immersive view into the memories of an event that changed these men forever.

I hope this forensic recreation can give a voice to veterans and act as a bridge to communicate for those who struggle to articulate to family and loved ones what they experienced during service. I hope it acts as a warning sign by portraying the extensive damage warfare can radiate to everyone involved on all sides.  And I hope a new level of respect is reached for the soldiers who have been through hell and back, and reverence for those who didn’t return.  I certainly know being a part of this has changed me.

Do you think being involved in such an intense film like "WARFARE" might influence the kind of roles and projects you get drawn to in the future?  

I suppose so.  Picking projects is always contingent on so many creative variables, and Warfare was a dream project for countless reasons.  I’ve always been drawn to working with passionate artists who are genuinely good hearted people.  How wonderful it is to work with people who are kind.  Hard working, passionate, talented, sure - all great aspects, but being kind is a treasure to find, and Warfare had it all across the board.

For now, I’m just enjoying being grateful.  For my first foray into a military film to be with some of the greatest directors, with one of the greatest production companies, surrounded by some of the greatest co-stars… what a dream.

What's next for you, Evan? Any upcoming projects of yours in the pipeline that you'd like to tell us about? 

Quite a few things I’m excited about in the works but unfortunately can’t speak on them yet.  Thank you for asking though.

Ending Note:- Thank you for joining us on this lovely interview, Evan! Wishing you lots of luck on the success of WARFARE!

Thank you.  It’s been a pleasure.

Lastly, I would love to know if there's any message that you wish to convey to your fans and supporters currently reading this interview?  

Thank you for reading.  Go see Warfare in theaters!  The sound design and experience are something meant for the big screen (and the big speakers).  You won’t be disappointed.

WARFARE is showing in selected cinemas.