(Updated 04/08/2024)
With THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE, director Guy Ritchie returns to the fast-paced blend of action, thrills, and comedy that has been his bread and butter since his debut movie, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS. This new film is a World War II-era movie that takes a lot of dramatic license as it turns the story of a real special forces operation into a signature Guy Ritchie project.
With a cast that features Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson of "Reacher," THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE has all the right ingredients to be a blast of springtime entertainment. Here's everything you need to know.
What's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Release Date?
Lionsgate will release THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE on April 19, 2024.
Watch the Trailer for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
It's so much fun to see Henry Cavill unleashed. He's played so many characters who are refined and/or controlled. And he's great at that! But Cavill has a lot more to offer, and we're looking forward to seeing him get a bit unhinged in this movie.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Is Based on a True Story
Guy Ritchie's movie is based upon the book of the same title, subtitled "How Churchill's Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops," by British author, journalist, and filmmaker Damien Lewis. Published in 2015, the book details the formation of the first version of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), which in turn commanded a unit known as No. 62 Commando, which was licensed to use any means necessary — and any type of person capable of getting the job done.
Their first mission was to disrupt or seize German shipping and refueling efforts off the coast of West Africa. Their mission involved espionage, subterfuge, explosives, and and insane level of planning. The whole effort is referred to as Operation Postmaster, and a not-entirely-realistic version of that operation is at the center of THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE.
James Bond Creator Ian Fleming Is Involved
If everything in the paragraphs above sounds like it could be part of a James Bond novel, there's a good reason. Bond creator Ian Fleming worked as part of the Royal Navy starting in 1939, and he was soon acting as a liaison between the Navy and other branches of the war force, including the SOE.
Fleming would conceive operations and cover stories, and reportedly performed some of those duties for Operation Postmaster. He appears in the movie, but we don't know the degree to which he's part of the story — chances are that, as a character, he's involved in getting the operation moving, but not so much in the actual execution.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Also Features the Actor Behind Reacher
If it's not enough to have the creator of a heavyweight character like James Bond as part of this story, the movie also features the man currently known as the star of "Reacher," the TV series adaptation of Lee Child's long-running series of novels.
Alan Ritchson, the star of "Reacher," plays Anders Lassen, described as "an aristocratic, handsome, and bloodthirsty young Danish warrior." It might be fun to see Ritchson playing a WWII espionage agent, given that the fictional Jack Reacher is the son of a woman who has her own ties to resistance against the Nazis. (Yeah, this is kind of a stretch but it's also an entertaining connection. Work with us here!)
Who's in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Cast?
We've mentioned that Henry Cavill is in the movie; he stars as Gus March-Phillipps, called "a wild British eccentric of high birth." You can see that "wild eccentric" aspect coming through even in the trailer. And Alan Ritchson, as mentioned, plays Anders Lassen. Eiza González has a role, as does Henry Golding. Alex Pettyfer plays the highly-decorated commando Geoffrey Appleyard, whose exploits during the War are nearly legendary.
Freddie Fox plays Ian Fleming, and the cast also features Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusanmokun, Til Schweiger, Henrique Zaga, Cary Elwes, Roger Snipes, Danny Sapani, Olaf Kayhan, Mert Dincer, and Ethel von Brixham.
THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE opens on April 19.
All images courtesy of Lionsgate.