Havoc: On the red carpet with the cast and creatives at the London premiere
High-octane and incredibly thrilling, Havoc, starring Tom Hardy, is an upcoming Netflix release that blends gun-slinging action with dynamic mixed martial arts. Written and directed by Gareth Evans, the man behind the film Apostle and the TV series Gangs of London, Havoc follows Detective Walker, whose underhanded dealings with an infamous politician unravel as he finds himself further entangled with the criminal underworld. Dragged into a drug war between several powerful players and complicated family affairs, Walker must find and protect Charlie, the son of the politician. Despite all the energetic and aesthetic elements of the picture, and the many plot threads and character arcs to follow, Havoc displays seamless and grounded storytelling that focuses on themes of family and choices, and they can define a person.
The Upcoming caught up with several members of the cast at its carpet premiere at the BFI IMAX, including Jill Winternitz, who plays the critical role of Angela, one of the key elements to Walker’s haunting past. Winternitz discussed what fans can anticipate from the movie, the importance of balance in women’s roles in the feature, both in the action and the emotional beats of the story, and how the key themes apply to her character.
Narges Rashidi also spoke to us about her role as Walker’s estranged wife. She discussed her working relationship with director Evans and how the combination of his filmmaking with Hardy’s acting prowess elevates Havoc, and further sang praises for Evans and what he has done for the action genre.
Jim Caesar stopped by to talk about his experience working with the amazing cast, consisting of Hardy, Forest Whitaker and Luis Guzmán. He emphasised the importance of their stunt crew in their work, creating the action-packed sequences. Caesar provided an in-depth look into his character, Wes, and how the themes of choices defining a person affect the trajectory of his character arc.
Producer Aram Tertzakian gave an insight into the behind-the-scenes process of making Havoc. He talked about the different story beats and fight sequences and how he and the rest of the production team worked to combine all the various elements seamlessly and cohesively. Tertzakian also touched on some of the inspirations for the film, building the cast and how the film personally spoke to him.
Ed Talfan, also a producer alongside Tertzakian, Hardy and Evans, spoke about his role in the making of the film, from the intensity of their 16-week shoot and the building of the sets to transform Wales into an American-like cityscape, to working with local crews.
Quelin Sepulveda, who plays the role of Mia, the street-smart girlfriend of Charlie who gets caught up in the brawl, commented on the multifaceted nature of her character, from the stunts she’s involved in to her contribution to Charlie’s emotional journey. She also spoke about her experience working with Hardy in all their high-energy fight sequences.
Luis Guzmán, taking on the mantle of Mia’s uncle, briefly chatted with us about his character and all the exciting things to look forward to in Havoc. He briefly mentioned his time filming in Wales and the downsides of the shoot, and his symbiotic and creative relationship with Hardy on-set.
Yeo Yann Yann has an integral role in the film as the leader of her triad, the Mother. She spoke highly of her character and noted the silent but powerful presence of the Mother throughout the film. Yeo also talked about how much she enjoyed working with the rest of the cast and highlighted the abundance of action sequences, especially from her right-hand woman, the Assassin, played by Michelle Waterson-Gomez.
Justin Cornwell introduced us to his character Charlie, one of the key players of the film. He dove deep into his character and how the decisions Charlie makes affect the overarching story of Havoc, and what it was like working with his scene partners to capture the emotional nuance of the script despite the chaotic action surrounding him. Cornwell also discussed working with Whitaker on two separate projects over four years and cultivating a father-son dynamic with the acclaimed actor.
Former mixed martial artist Gomez spared us a moment to talk about her role as the Assassin, a silent, highly competent and extremely lethal character. She emphasised the difficulty of playing a role with no lines and how she used physicality to add depth to the character. Gomez spoke of working with Yeo, who became a mother-figure to her on-set.
Finally, director Evans stopped by to provide more insight into the making of the film. He talked about his inspirations, such as the 80s movies he watched growing up, specifically by directors like John Woo and Ringo Lam, and fusing that with the aesthetics of 70s American crime films. Evans went further in-depth with their process of curating the action sequences and weaving in story and psychology on top of the fighting.
Mae Trumata
Havoc is released on Netflix on 25th April 2025.
Watch the trailer for Havoc here:
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