Black Hawk Downis an adrenaline-fueled action feature directed by Ridley Scott, that shows the real-life incident that happened in the Somalian War when two American helicopters were shot down and a fight started between Army Rangers, US Special Forces, and Somali gunmen in a long, and deadly gunfight. Scott has always known how to direct action films, although normally they involve more swords, horses, and period-style helmets, and here, he does it brilliantly, playing the action at full throttle for 144 minutes of stress and tension.
Other than being a great film, what’s most remembered about this movie is the incredible cast of actors it has, most of them in their first film ever, and before most of them hit it big. There are A-listers, prestigious TV actors, and even a comedic actor who you would have never thought you’d see in an action film, and playing a military man. Here’s where the cast ofBlack Hawk Downis today.
You can rentBlack Hawk Downon Apple TV
Josh Hartnett
Josh Hartnettis the lead character inBlack Hawk Down,as he plays Eversmann, proving he could be more than a teenage heartthrob, as before this movie, he had been part ofThe Virgin SuicidesandThe Faculty. This film was followed bySin CityandThe Black Dahlia, making Hartnett one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. After passing on being Christopher Nolan’s Batman, the actor took a break from Hollywood and disappeared for a few years to spend time with his family. In the last three years, he has had a comeback, working with Guy Ritchie, and finally with Nolan, as one of the scientists inOppenheimer.
When people think ofEric Bana, they think of his career as a great actor who plays tough roles involving action somehow. That kind of career is in big part to this film, where he played Hoot. Before that, Bana was mostly known as a standup comedian in Australia. This film was his breakout in Hollywood, and he never looked back, becoming the Hulk,Hector inTroy,and the lead in one of Steven Spielberg’s more serious films,Munich. Since then, he has kept working steadily in action films, but also voicing characters and having some fun in comedies, especially inFunny People.His next lead role will be inBerlin Nobody, a movie about a cult.
Tom Sizemore
Tom Sizemoremight have been one of the biggest and most known actors in the cast ofBlack Hawk Down,playing McKnight,as he had already beena supporting player in many great movies, includingHeat, Saving Private Ryan,andNatural Born Killers.After this movie, he continued playing any role available, be it in movies, TV, or video games (he was one of the lead voices inGrand Theft Auto: Vice City), spending most of his 2010s in straight-to-VOD films. His last big role was inTwin Peaks: The Return.Sizemore died earlier this year, leaving behind a unique career with more than 200 roles to his name.
Ewan McGregor
WhenBlack Hawk Downwas released,Ewan McGregorhad already beenyoung Obi-Wan Kenobi, but only for one film, Renton inTrainspotting,and Christian inMoulin Rouge,and yet, this might be the film that confirmed that the actor had arrived and would stay in Hollywood for the long haul. His performance as Grimes is one of the best in the movie, confirming all his talent and being one more step in becoming one of the industry’s biggest leading men, playing Obi-Wan for two more films, and being the lead inBig Fish,andThe Island.
More than 20 years later, after this Ridley Scott movie, McGregor continues to be one of the most sought-after actors in the industry; he just came back as Obi-Wan in last year’s Disney+ TV series, won an Emmy for his lead role inHalstonand has five projects lined up for next year, including the TV miniseriesA Gentleman in Moscow.
Orlando Bloom
Orlando Bloomhas a very small role with a tragic ending inBlack Hawk Downas Blackburn, and the film would’ve been his breakout role if not for the fact that a few months before,Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringhad already been released, making his performance here, a more surprising one for those who already knew him as Legolas, and though he was going to be one of the most important parts in Ridley Scott’s film. Bloom became a movie star thanks to theLord of the Ringsfilms, and the fact that he went from that franchise to another big one, inPirates of the Caribbean.
He worked with Scott again, this time as the lead, inKingdom of Heaven.In the last few years, Bloom has been playing a lot of supporting roles inThe Hobbitfranchise, where he was Legolas once again, before becoming the lead in the TV seriesCarnival Row.His last role released was in Neil Blomkamp’sGran Turismo.
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Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacshad already been a villain in Hollywood thanks to his turn as William Tavington inThe Patriot, so it was a surprise to see him in this movie as one of the good guys, and one who was more than respected by his squad. He played Captain Steele here, one of those characters you would always love to have by your side in a crisis, with an accent that fooled everyone into thinking he was American.
Isaacs went back to being the bad guy one year after this movie as he became Lucius Malfoy in theHarry Potterfranchise, using all his charisma for evil. Isaacs has never stopped working, in movies, TV series, and voicing video games, becoming a great distant father figure in shows likeThe Great,Good Sam,orSex Education,while also voicing heroes like Superman inSuperman: Red Son.
Hugh Dancy
Although he had already had some small roles in British TV,Black Hawk DownwasHugh Dancy’s first feature film, as he plays “Doc” Schmid, in an almost unrecognizable role, both because of how young he looks, and how weird is to see him with a military hair cut. Dancy kept working until his big breakout role in 2007’sThe Jane Austen Book Club, where he used all his charm as the romantic interest.
After that, he kept playing romantic interest in other films likeConfessions of a Shopaholic,until 2013, when he landed the role that proved that he could do much more than being charming and romantic, Will Graham in the TV seriesHannibalin what’s still his most famous, and weird role ever. In the last two years, he’s been both in movies and television, being part ofDowntown Abby: A New Era, and playing Executive ADA Nolan Price inLaw & Order.
Ty Burrell
This might be the most shocking actor appearing inBlack Hawk Down,asTy Burrellhas a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role as Wilkinson. This was only his third role ever, afterEvolutionand a guest role inThe West Wing, and it would take Burrell three more years before having another substantial role inDawn of the Dead.He kept getting employed, even appearing as a rival romantic interest to the lead in bothHulk(Edward Norton version)andNational Treasure: Book of Secretsbefore becoming a great award-winning comedy actor inModern Familyasone of its best characters, Phil. After that incredible run, which lasted 11 seasons and 250 episodes, and gave him all the recognition he deserved for his comedy chops, Burrell has been voicing the character of Jack Harris inDuncanville.
Another actor with a small and surprising appearance in this movie isTom Hardyin what was his first film role (he was so new to the industry, that back then he went by Thomas Hardy), as the character of Twombly. Funnily enough, Hardy also appeared as a military man ina small role inBand of Brothersin the same year. The A-lister still needed a few more years until he made it big; he had a supporting role inLayer Cake,and Sofia Coppola’sMarie Antoinettebefore making it big inBronson,and confirming he could be as charming as he is tough inInception. Now, he has his own superhero franchise inVenom.
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Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Nikolaj Coster-Waldauhas a small but important role in the story as Gordon. This was a decade before he became Jaime Lannister inGame of Thrones, and although he had already been working steadily for years in Denmark, this movie was his first Hollywood role. He tried to be a leading man in the TV seriesNew Amsterdam, but the show only lasted eight episodes, and in 2011, he got the role for which he’s still most famous for. Since then, he hasn’t stopped working, even voicing a character in an episode ofThe Simpsons, led the survival movieAgainst the Ice,and was one of the most important parts in the TV seriesThe Last Thing He Told Me,starring Jennifer Garner.
