AMBUSHED!
House of Cards’ MICHAEL KELLY co-stars in a new series that dramatises a devastating attack on a Us platoon in Iraq
ON 4 APRIL 2004, during the Iraq War, a platoon of US soldiers in Sadr City, Baghdad, came under attack from local insurgents. The violent assault left eight American troops dead and 51 injured, and came to be known as ‘Black Sunday’.
Now, the firefight has been turned into a new drama series on National Geographic, which relives how the 1st Cavalry Division fought for survival when the militiamen struck. The series cuts between fighting on the ground in Iraq and the Fort Hood military base in Texas, where anxious wives and families waited for news.
Adapted from Martha Raddatz’s best-selling book, the eight-part series – which begins with a double bill – follows events in real time in Iraq and the United States, while also jumping backwards and forwards in time.
RESCUE ATTEMPT
‘There’s both tragedy and hope in this one day,’ says series creator Mikko Alanne. ‘The attack marked the beginning of the insurgency in southern Iraq, from which came the collapse of the Iraqi state and the birth of ISIS. It sparked the start of the modern anti-war movement in America, so it was a unique event.’
Each episode is seen from the perspective of a particular soldier, including Captain Troy Denomy
(Parenthood’s Jason Ritter) and Lt Col Gary Volesky, the battalion commander who leads a daring rescue operation during the attack.
‘For an actor, it’s an enormous responsibility to play real-life soldiers,’ says House of Cards’
Michael Kelly, who plays Volesky.
‘You want to represent these people the best you can. As an actor, I get to travel the world and go to amazing places, but it’s because these guys are out there putting their lives on the line each day.’
The drama also explores the impact of the attack on the soldiers’ families back home in Fort Hood, with Kate Bosworth playing Denomy’s wife, Gina, and The Walking
Dead’s Sarah Wayne Callies as Volesky’s wife, Leann.
Not only did the film crew shoot the family scenes in Ford Hood, the base also stood in for Sadr City, with more than 80 buildings constructed to create the suburb’s maze-like streets, including the alley where the army unit was pinned down.
BONDING AT THE BARBIE
The cast all lived on site during filming, sharing domestic facilities with the real-life service personnel. ‘It was such an advantage to all of us as actors,’ continues Kelly. ‘We had lots of barbecues and it really brought us all together.’
The role of a military hero was a refreshing change for Kelly, who has played loyal but ruthless White House chief of staff Doug Stamper in House of Cards for five seasons.
‘I love Doug,’ he laughs. ‘Some of the things he does are despicable, but at his true core, I understand the guy. To play him is the greatest gift. I always say he’s not really a bad guy; he just does some bad things.’