Jake Gyllenhaal On Why He’s Drawn To Military Roles Like ‘The Covenant’: ‘So Much Pride And Love’

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal recently discussed why he’s drawn to military roles ahead of the release of his new film, “The Covenant.”

“At the beginning of my career, I played a Marine, a recruit, and I got to know a lot of people in the military and learned from them,” the 42-year-old actor told the Associated Press during a red carpet interview this week. “And I think it changed my perspective on the world sort of just being around and touching that world just a bit.”

“I have throughout my career played people who are ex-military, people who had a history in that, and I’ve learned so much from that group. And there’s so much pride and love, the people that defend our freedom — that I am drawn to that story,” Gyllenhaal said. 

The “Jarhead” actor said he’s “drawn to” characters in “extreme circumstances because I think it brings out the humanity in people.”

“And there’s no better characters in extreme circumstances than a soldier, in particular, so that may be also why I’m drawn to it,” Gyllenhaal said. 

“The Covenant” features Gyllenhaal playing U.S. Army Special Forces Sgt. John Kinley. A local interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim), is recruited to help the military, then saves Kinley’s life. Gyllenhaal’s character returns to the war zone to rescue the interpreter and his family after they aren’t extracted to America as promised.

The story is not based on real people but is a fictional account of actual events with interpreters in the war zone. Per Deadline, the film’s end credits state that many interpreters left behind have been murdered by the Taliban or gone into hiding since U.S. troops withdrew. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP

The action thriller was co-written, co-produced, and directed by Guy Ritchie. It premieres this Friday, April 21.

Early critic reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “a gritty change of pace” for Ritchie. 

“This is a serious-minded, well-acted drama that shows just as keen an interest in character, specifically the integrity of two men from vastly different cultures who provide the story of brotherhood and survival with its racing pulse,” reviewer David Rooney wrote. 

“The Covenant” currently has an 80% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.