Exclusive Interview: Levi Miller Takes Us Into the Trenches of His New Film, ‘Before Dawn’

Levi Miller is one of the industry’s most exciting up-and-coming actors, captivating audiences with his layered and nuanced performances. Hailing from Down Under, he’s quickly made his mark, landing coveted roles in projects such as Pan, A Wrinkle in Time, and Streamline.

This July, he stars in the must-see, action-packed film, Before Dawn. After leaving his family’s sheep farm in the Australian outback, Jim Collins (Miller) joins his countrymen on the western front of World War I with hopes of helping expedite an end to the bloody conflict. But as war rages on, he is forced to grapple with the brutal realities of trench warfare, including a near-constant battle to keep himself alive—without leaving another man behind.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Levi who took us into the trenches of Before Dawn.

PC: Before Dawn was inspired by the real-life diaries of soldiers from World War I. How much does bringing awareness to these otherwise untold stories play a role in your desire to be part of this project? What was it about this character and script that resonated with you?
Levi: I received the script a few years before shooting. Along with the script, our director Jordan [Prince-Wright] provided some diary entries that inspired the story. That was a big part of it for me because I enjoy the prep process a lot. Shooting is a brilliant experience, but the preparation and being as ready as possible was a significant aspect. Those diary entries were enlightening.

PC: When you’re working on a project like this, is there a different sense of pressure or responsibility to tell these stories?
Levi: It is different, but I wouldn’t say there are varying levels of pressure. We definitely wanted to portray things with authenticity and let the audience experience as much as possible. That’s where my head is at for every production, but it’s especially gritty in this case because there’s the mud, the horrors of war, and everything like that.

PC: You did such a fantastic job bringing your character’s coming-of-age journey to life, capturing the intricacies of being a soldier in the field where every decision is life or death. Can you talk about how you created that space for yourself to dive into the vulnerability and strength of this character and how you found your way in?
Levi: The diaries echoed the headspace of these soldiers, so I was ready for that. Then everything else was very environmental, like the trenches. Hundreds of meters of these muddy trenches were built, and as soon as you stepped foot in them, you were instantly immersed. Along with that were the uniforms, heavy weaponry, and the way you hold your rifle. Everything was compounding and compounding. Looking back on it, it’s also the camaraderie that I built with my mates—some I knew before and some I made throughout production.

PC: You feel that immense brotherhood between all the soldiers. How were you able to build that bond with the rest of the cast? Do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes moment?
Levi: There were a lot of great moments, but everything is with the precursor that we were freezing cold. One moment that stands out is a night shoot we were doing. It rained during the day, and we started shooting at night. The cold was still lingering in the air. We had a break while they were moving cameras. They built these fire pits to keep everyone warm because bringing electricity out to the middle of nowhere was pretty much impossible, especially trying to drive trucks with generators through the mud. It was too crazy, so we’d stand by the fire with our mitts on, just talking with the other boys. It’s those little moments on set. There were definitely other things on set, but it’s those real human moments in between where we’re talking and connecting that I love.

PC: The scale on which this film was created is so immersive. Do you remember walking onto set for the first time? Can you describe those emotions and what it was like seeing it on the big screen for the first time?
Levi: The first time we went on set, we were having a rehearsal day before shooting. It was the key principal cast and the director. We were wandering through this huge trench. It seemed never-ending; I didn’t step foot in every corner of it. I think I was probably the closest to stepping through it all, but I didn’t. It was just incredible. It was an overcast afternoon with a sprinkle of rain, and we were hiding underneath the tent. That was a moment I won’t forget.

As far as seeing it on screen, it really did translate. You can feel it through the screen. You can see it in the faces of the great background cast, who were also in it with us in their uniforms and muddied up. It’s authentic. On sets, you’re often sprayed down with something, but no, everything was real. It was much better. Everything was real mud. [laughs]

PC: You felt that as an audience member as well.
Levi: There were moments when I’d wash my face because I had so much mud in my eye, and they’d say, “Okay, we’re going to move on to the next bit.” They’d tell me, “You had mud on your face,” so I’d pick up mud and just put it back on, which was good. [laughs]

PC: You feel everything that those soldiers went through with all of your performances. Jordan co-wrote and directed this project. How different is that filming experience when the person who’s helped create the screenplay is also at the helm directing? What was that collaboration like?
Levi: Jordan was great. He was the first person I met with and talked through the project. He provided the diaries for me to read. When I first met him, he was talking about the process of building the trenches. At that point, they hadn’t built them yet, but the plans were there. The diaries were what really sold me on working on this film and with him. He certainly delivered on that front. Everyone’s very grateful for both his work and the people who were out there digging those trenches. They did a phenomenal job.

PC: Before Dawn is hitting theaters and available digitally in the States on the 19th. What do you hope audiences take away after they see this? What scene are you most excited for them to see?
Levi: I hope the two things they take away are the horror of war itself—the constant ringing of shells and bullets, the mud, and not being able to see your feet. That was a major issue for soldiers back in the day. It’s about both the broad and micro horrors of it. Also, the camaraderie of the boys that they built throughout the war, remembering their family, and seeing the real human side of it that can often be overlooked.

PC: You don’t see that in films like this. You’ve worked on projects of all sizes. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative and storyteller?
Levi: I love them both in their broad ways, but they each individually have their own quirks. For this film, especially, it was like this guerrilla style of shooting. There was a lot of freedom to move around and experiment, especially because they built the trenches to give us a lot of room for different movements and changes on the day, in the moment.

PC: I feel like you’re one of the most exciting actors in the industry right now. Every actor takes something away from the projects they’ve worked on. What did you learn about your own craft being a part of this film?
Levi: I’ll say I learned how physically pushed I can be, which is kind of weird, but I’d never experienced this before. I didn’t know what it was like to be torso-deep in mud for several hours a day. I’d come home, shower, and then be ready for the next morning to do it again. It’s not remotely comparable to what the real young men went through, but for me, at least, it was pretty eye-opening.

PC: 2024 is shaping up to be a big year for you. Outside of Before Dawn, you’re also going to be starring in the upcoming Kraven the Hunter. Is there anything that you can tease about that project? What is it like joining the MCU?
Levi: I wish I could share more. It was pretty soon after I shot Before Dawn. We were talking about big-scale productions versus independent films, and that was totally different but equally enjoyable. It was a great shoot. Working with Russell [Crowe] was phenomenal. I’ve had the privilege to work with a lot of iconic and talented actors, and that ranks up there as well. He’s an awesome dude.

To keep up with Levi, follow him on Instagram. Before Dawn is out in select theaters and available digitally.

Photo Credit: Luke Fontana