The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Tribeca Film Festival: Nat Wolff, Alexander Skarsgård & More Discuss New Film ‘The Kill Team’

by Liam Haber May 1, 2019
by Liam Haber May 1, 2019 0 comments
2.1K

The stars and the writer/director of ‘The Kill Team’ discuss the film and its politics at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere

Premiering April 27th at the Tribeca Film Festival, the new film The Kill Team from writer/director Dan Krauss tells the true story of the Maywand District murders, a massacre of Afghani people committed by a number of soldiers in 2009. Krauss adapts the story from his 2013 Tribeca Award-winning documentary of the same name, fictionalizing it and bringing the story to a new audience.

Nat Wolff stars as Andrew Briggman, a young soldier in Afghanistan who is assigned a new sergeant, Deeks (Alexander Skarsgård), that begins to demand some of his soldiers into killing Afghani people.

Stars Skarsgård, Wolff and Brain Mack along with Krauss spoke to us at the Knockturnal about making the film and what went into taking the true story of the Maywand District killings and turns them into an at-times harrowing story of obligation and what it means to be a member of the military in this day and age.

The Knockturnal: This is not your first time here at Tribeca. Last time you were here, you were with the documentary version of The Kill Team. What is it like coming back and bringing the story back here?

Dan Krauss (Writer/Director):   You know, it’s more than a little surreal. But I also feel an amazing sense of history. This is a moment of full-circle closure in a way I’m experiencing. First I told it first as an objective, journalistic work and now I’m here telling it as a very different, more subjective and emotional work. To get to do both of those things here at Tribeca is a real privilege. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity. The documentary had a wonderful launch here at this festival six years ago, so to be back here again with the same-titled film but with Alexander Skarsgård and Nat Wolff and Brian Marc and all these wonderful actors depicting fictionalized versions of real people… it’s a trip! But it’s a wonderful collaborative experience we all had together that allowed us to take what was a really difficult true story and interpret it and regurgitate it as an emotional experience for audiences.

The Knockturnal: You’re taking a non-fictional story and fictionalizing it. What was the biggest challenge in making sure that it held onto the truth even through changing the details of the actual events?

Dan Krauss: What I decided in writing it was that I had an allegiance to the big facts of what happened. In other words, the conspiracy to kill people and that there was this cult of personality leading them all. Those were sort of the facts that I believed I couldn’t change. But within that kind of broader umbrella of factual principle, I had a lot of interpretive space to take those characters and those ideas and make them my own. And I think that is important to own your characters and own your story and to not be slavishly adherent to a kind of Wikipedia version of a story.


The Knockturnal: You’ve played a lot of characters with some… for lack of a better term “complicated” moral backgrounds. What is it like to get into that mind space, where you play someone who thinks they are doing the right thing, whether that is the right thing or not.

Alexander Skarsgård (“Sergeant Deeks”): Well, it’s the best thing about my job. That’s what’s so incredible when you start working on a project and a character when it’s, like in this case, someone who is repulsive and trying to understand where he is coming from and how he ended up in this position. Because I had to justify it, I had to understand like “well, this makes perfect sense to him.” In his world, [his actions] make perfect sense to him, it’s just fascinating to go into that headspace and explore that. Not to justify what he is doing, but in order to play something, you almost have to believe that he believed it.


The Knockturnal: What was it like bringing a real person’s life to this semi-fictionalized version of the story?

Nat Wolff (“Andrew Briggman”): Well I think I was lucky enough to meet with Adam [Winfield], the real man who my character was based off of. And I got to spend the night at his house, and then he was nice enough to take me around Seattle a bit, and I got a lot out of that. But at the end of the day, we were making a film exploring difficult choices and morality, and so it was very very helpful but also at a certain point we had to honor the story Dan [Krauss] wrote.

The Knockturnal: How was shooting on location, and the training regiment?

Nat Wolff: It was weeks of really intense military training. Nothing compared to what those guys really go through. Actors like to pretend that they have what the people in real life do, but it’s just getting a taste of what they go through gave me newfound respect.

The Knockturnal: What is next for you after this film?

Nat Wolff: I’m about to do a movie called Mainstream with Andrew Garfield, and I have a couple of movies coming out. And I just had music come out with my brother [Alex Wolff], we had two songs called “Cool Kids” and “Note” come out.


The Knockturnal: How did you learn to work with the people in your “team” in the movie? How did you build a brotherhood with the other actors?

Brian Marc (“Marquez”): They housed us together in the same place, but we also kind of went through a boot camp, a basic training together before filming so we did that together within our ranks. So the leader was our leader, you know? So we would go to set together, go to rehearsals together as usual. But at night we would still be together, and we would wake up and be together. So spending all of that time in another country and all of that together… it kind of comes naturally. You have your own quirks, you know? “Oh this is the funny one, this is the serious one…” and so it comes natural[ly] by the time they say action.

The Kill Team premiered April 27th at the Tribeca Film Festival.

alexander skarsgardbrian marcNat WolffThe Kill TeamTribeca 2019Tribeca Film FestivalTribeca Film Festival 2019
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Liam Haber

previous post
Tribeca Film Festival: Stars and Directors Discuss ‘Plus One’
next post
Tribeca Film Festival: Stars Hong Chau, Sarah Gadon and Lola Kirke Talk ‘American Woman’

Related Posts

LA Premiere: HBO’s The Chair Company 

October 19, 2025

A Toast to Ja Rule’s Amber &Opal Whiskey...

October 19, 2025

Building Hip Hop’s Forever Home: The Hip-Hop Museum’s...

October 17, 2025

Justin Bieber Leads SKYLRK to Victory at LA’s...

October 17, 2025

Jada George on Building a Dystopian World That...

October 17, 2025

Lisa Rinna Celebrates the Launch of Crown Royal...

October 17, 2025

The Fence review – The Emotional Borderlines of...

October 16, 2025

We Discuss the Film ‘No Other Choice’ with...

October 16, 2025

Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice is Dark, Gripping,...

October 16, 2025

Screamfest 2025: The 25th Annual Celebration of Horror...

October 16, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

theknockturnal

Lifestyle. Music. Entertainment.
Info@theknockturnal.com
New Cover Out Now ⬇️

#ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when y #ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when you least expect it — and flinch when you do. 👀💥

Full review out now.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/park-chan-wooks-no-other-choice-is-dark-gripping-and-bitingly-funny/

✍️: Ishan Wankavala 

-
#NoOtherChoice #KoreanCinema #Cinephile #FilmReview #NewRelease #MustWatch
📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining 📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining boundaries with each track, image, and evolution. Dive into our exclusive to uncover the artistry behind the name. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/woodz/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#Woodz #Kpop #ArtistSpotlight #Editorial
EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to elect EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to electrifying new heights, bringing “I WANT IT” to life with unmatched energy, confidence, and flair. Every beat, every move, every note is a reminder that STAYC don’t just perform—they command the stage. 🌈💥

From their glowing visuals to powerhouse vocals, @stayc_highup deliver a night that’s equal parts spectacle and soul.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/stayc/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#STAYC #StayTunedTour #IWANTIT #STAYCgirls #STAYChighup #Kpop #ConcertHighlights #ExclusiveFeature
Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new film, exploring its unique darkness. 🌟

#ParkChanWook #NoOtherChoice #TheAx #KoreanFilm #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook tea Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook teases his probable upcoming project Genocidal Organ! 

#ParkChanWook #GenocidalOrgan #NYFF #NYFF26
Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in his latest film @nootherchoicefilm. 🖤🎬

#LeeByungHun #NoOtherChoice #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun refl Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun reflects on 20 years of film, from South Korea to Hollywood! 

#LeeByungHun #Hollywood #KoreanCinema #Film #NoOtherChoice #NYFF26 #NYFF
Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what it means to move forward together in their latest comeback. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/cix/

✍️: Emma Salehi

Photo Credits: C9 Entertainment 
-
#CIX #GOChapter1 #GOTogether #TheKnockturnal #KpopInterview #KpopNews #CIXComeback #CIX2025 #KpopFeature #CIXFans
It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North Ameri It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North America on their ‘Stay Tuned’ tour! 💖

Watch their energetic and fun filled show near you 👀🌟

#stayc #kpop #kpopconcert #iwantit #staycstaytuned #staytuned
Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷 We had the most a Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷

We had the most amazing day of inspiring panels, activations and networking at @femalefounderworld, with @eyebuydirect! 👓
Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joa Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joachim Trier for their sixth cinematic journey, co-writing Sentimental Value, a poignant exploration of family, memory, and reconciliation. 

-
#Screenwriting #Storytelling #WritingForFilm #FilmWriting #NYFF2025 #NewYorkFilmFestival #IndieFilm
At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to l At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to life in Sentimental Value, portraying a character whose journey through family complexities and personal discovery resonates deeply. 

-
#RenateReinsve #NYFF #SentimentalValue #NoraBorg #FilmFestival #Actress
@nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as @nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as a director, bringing his story to life with precision, collaboration, and attention to every frame. 

The film reflects his dedication to emotion, storytelling, and cinematic craft. 🎥

-
#JoachimTrimmer #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Director #Filmmaking
We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the emotional process behind her latest film. ✨

-
#IngaIbsdotterLilleaas #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Cinema
Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling — @ Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling — @ellefanning in conversation at this year’s @thenyff.

-
#ElleFanning #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #RedCarpet #Cinema
✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performa ✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performances, the 2025 #TeenVogueSummit brought together voices shaping fashion, culture, and activism today. 💬🎶

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/2025-teen-vogue-summit-recap-full-of-fun-fashion-and-connection/

✍️: Zipporah Pruitt

-
#TeenVogue #TeenVogueSummit2025 #TeenVogueEvents
#TeenVogueCommunity #TeenVogueStyle
Visit the @Complex x @Aepsa_official Pop-Up for ‘Rich Man’ in LA with The Knockturnal! ✨

From exclusive merch and photo cards to signatures and more — ~ 100% worth the visit 

⏰ Sept 16–17 | 11 AM – 7 PM PT
📍 433 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles

#Aespa #Complex #RichMan #KPopMerch #AespaInLA #KPopFans #Kpop #Karina #Giselle #Winter #NingNing
NYFW magic ✨ @aliceandolivia by Stacey Bendet tr NYFW magic ✨ @aliceandolivia by Stacey Bendet transformed the runway into a dazzling celebration of bold prints, playful silhouettes, and timeless style. From Surrogate’s Court to the city streets, the collection truly captured the spirit of the modern woman. 💄

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/stars-stripes-and-alice-olivia-by-stacey-bendet/

✍️: ElizaBeth Taylor

-
#NYFW #AliceAndOlivia #StaceyBendet #RunwayStyle #FashionWeek
Some things are just a perfect match—milk & cook Some things are just a perfect match—milk & cookies, Oreos & a cold glass of milk… and @nickbarrotta on the red carpet celebrating 30 years of the iconic milk mustache. 🥛🍪

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/got-milk-celebrates-30-years-with-stars-and-everyday-californians/

✍️&🎤: Ashley Lopez

-
#GotMilk30 #GotMilk #NickBarrotta #TylerPerrysTheOval #MilkMustache
On the red carpet, Stranger Things star @priahferg On the red carpet, Stranger Things star @priahferguson spoke with us at the @gotmilk 30th Anniversary Milk Mustache Celebration, where the campaign unveiled its bold new focus on everyday Californians as the real icons. 🥛✨

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/got-milk-celebrates-30-years-with-stars-and-everyday-californians/

✍️&🎤: Ashley Lopez

-
#GotMilk30 #PriahFerguson #StrangerThings #MilkMustache #RedCarpet #GotMilk
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch