War Dogs - Two Friends Who Made a Killing in the Afghan War; Cast, Release Date
The movie is based on a Rolling Stone article about two amateur arm dealers.
Jonah Hill and Miles Teller star in War Dogs, a movie about two amateur arm dealers who went way over their heads when they had a $300 million deal with the Pentagon. The drama-comedy is based on a true story featured in a Rolling Stone article titled The Stoner Arms Dealers.
Rolling Stone Article
The article told the story of the two former childhood friends that capitalized on the George W. Bush administration's program of allowing small contractors to bid and fill government contract requirements. As a result, the two amateurs found their way into a multi-million contract to arm U.S. allies with an estimated 100 million rounds of AK-47 Ammo. Things escalate from there as they make big money and live the big life during the war in Afghanistan.
Leo's Advice on Playing Real People
Jonah Hill portrays Efraim Diveroli and before filming started, Hill got some advice from his former co-star Leonardo DiCaprio about playing real people in movies. The Oscar winner told him to meet the person he is playing first. Hill quoted Leo as advising him to take what he wants and leave what he doesn't from the meeting with the actual person.
However, much as Hill wanted to practice Leo's advice in War Dogs, he was unable to since Diveroli was serving his prison sentence during the time of filming. In fact, he did not want anything to do with the movie.
In a complete contrast, the character Teller plays in the movie, David Packouz, is not in jail and supported the movie. He even plays a cameo part. Teller revealed that the massage therapist turned international arms dealer was the guy playing the guitar in the retirement home scene.
From the Hangover Trilogy People
Hill and Teller are joined in the movie by Bradley Cooper who plays a character who is on the terrorist watch list. Cooper also serves as a producer for the film that reunites him with his The Hangover Trilogy director, Todd Phillips.
Originally, Jesse Eisenberg and Shia LaBeouf were said to star in War Dogs. Hill initially turned down the Diveroli role and Phillips had to rework the script to make the actor change his mind. According to the director, he already knew from the moment he read the Rolling Stone article that it was always Jonah he wanted in the movie. He just knew he will kill the part.
Hill considers Diveroli as a "genuinely bad person" and relished playing the part of the charismatic manipulator. Hill already has two Oscar nominations under his belt playing roles such as this. He was initially type-casted for playing comedy roles in movies such as Superbad and Knocked Up. His being signed on to a dramatic role with Brad Pitt in Moneyball was met with loud internet protests which Hill admitted to have hurt his feelings.
"War Dogs" will hit theaters on August 19 in the U.S.
