Angelina Jolie‘s Unbroken tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic athlete and prisoner of war who endured unimaginable hardships during World War II. The film follows Zamperini’s journey from his childhood as a troubled youth to his rise as a track star, and then to his experiences as a bomber pilot in the Pacific. After his plane crashes in the ocean, Zamperini is forced to survive on a raft with two other crew members, only to be captured by Japanese forces and sent to a series of brutal POW camps.
The film’s production had been in the works for decades, with stars like Tony Curtis and Nicolas Cage once attached to play Zamperini. However, it wasn’t until Jolie became involved that the project finally came to fruition. The film became her passion project, with Jolie drawing heavily from Zamperini’s own memoirs and interviews to bring his story to life. The result is a powerful and inspiring film that explores themes of resilience, faith, and redemption, featuring an array of stunning performances from a young cast that have gone on to find major success in Hollywood. So, let’s catch up with the cast of Unbroken and see where they are now.
Jack O’Connell as Louis Zamperini
By the time Unbroken began its casting process, Jack O’Connell had established himself in the UK after starring in the popular TV series Skins, and acclaimed films like This Is England and Eden Lake. However, he wasn’t yet known to wider audiences. To that, Angelina Jolie took a leap of faith and cast him in the lead role as Louis Zamperini. After auditioning via a self-tape, O’Connell stunned Jolie with his raw performance.
In the movie, O’Connell fully immersed himself into the role of Zamperini, portraying him at two very different periods of his life. To play the man in his Olympic phase, O’Connell quit smoking and bulked up his frame slightly. Then, to play Zamperini during his time in the POW camp, he shed a significant amount of weight. Although Unbroken was his breakout role, O’Connell still hasn’t become a Hollywood A-Lister just yet. Having said that, he has still starred in many Hollywood productions, rubbing shoulders with stars like George Clooney, Vince Vaughn, Jeff Daniels and Julia Roberts.
The period of 2023-2024 has been monumental for O’Connell, starring in the popular war series SAS: Rogue Heroes, Michael Mann‘s Ferrari, and the Amy Winehouse biopic, Back to Black. However, 2025 is looking to be the year that he might just break through to the masses. First, the Derby-born actor will head to New Orleans to play the lead villain in Ryan Coogler‘s upcoming vampire movie (currently untitled). Then, he will join Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Cillian Murphy, and Ralph Fiennes in the long-awaited 28 Years Later. O’Connell will take on a supporting role, however, the film will mark the start of a new trilogy where he will reportedly take the reigns as the lead in part two and three.
Miyavi as Watanabe
Miyavi is a Japanese musician and actor who has made a name for himself as one of the country’s most popular rock stars. As the leader of the rock band Miyavi & i-Scream, he is best known for his catchy electro-rock sound and his unique finger-slapping guitar playing style, which has gained him a massive following in Japan. However, in 2014, Miyavi took his talents to the big screen, making his acting debut in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken. In the film, he played the role of Watanabe, a sadistic Imperial Japanese Army soldier who becomes obsessed with tormenting Louis Zamperini. Watanabe, also known as “The Bird”, was notorious for his brutal treatment of Zamperini, subjecting him to years of physical and psychological torture.
Miyavi’s performance as the villainous Watanabe marked a successful transition into acting, showcasing his versatility as a performer and cementing his status as a household name in Japan. Since this role, he has starred in movies like Kong: Skull Island, and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. His last film role came in the 2023 movie Família. However, his main focus is still music.
Domhnall Gleeson as Phil
Domhnall Gleeson was born on May 12, 1983, in Dublin, Ireland. He began his acting career in the early 2000s, landing small roles in Irish films and television shows. However, it was his breakout role as Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise that brought him to international attention. In Unbroken, Gleeson played Phil, Zamperini’s friend and one of the soldiers who was shot down and later taken to the POW camp.
Much like it did for O’Connell, Unbroken opened the door to more Hollywood roles for Gleeson. In the same year that Unbroken was released, he starred in the Oscar-nominated Ex Machina. Then, in 2016, he shared the screen with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy in the Oscar-winning revenge epic, The Revenant. He also received widespread recognition for his haunting portrayal as a serial killer in the TV series, The Patient. He is next set to star opposite Sydney Sweeney and Julianne Moore in the drama movie, Echo Valley.
Finn Wittrock as Mac
Amongst the cast of Unbroken, Finn Wittrock shined as Mac, Zamperini’s friend who sadly didn’t make it and died at sea. Although his role was rather small, he captivated with a nuanced portrayal of a tough soldier who cracks when forced into extreme conditions. After Unbroken, Wittrock found further success joining the cast of American Horror Story, and American Crime Story, both of which landed him Primetime Emmy nominations. His next role will see him share the screen with RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad) and Sam Strike (The Boys in the Boat) in Westhampton.
Garrett Hedlund as Fitzgerald
By joining the cast of Unbroken, Garrett Hedlund propelled himself to fame as Fitzgerald, a tough soldier who befriends Zamperini in the POW camp. Hedlund played a crucial role in the movie, as Fitzgerald was a major champion of Zamperini, encouraging him to stay strong and not retaliate to the harsh treatment by Watanabe. After the success of the movie, Hedlund starred in revered movies like Mudbound and Triple Frontier. In 2022, he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in the crime series, Tulsa King. In the fall of 2024, he will return for the second season.
Jai Courtney as Cup
Australian actor Jai Courtney had already risen to Hollywood stardom before joining the cast of Unbroken. In 2012, he starred as a despicable villain in Jack Reacher, alongside Tom Cruise. In 2013, he starred in the final Die Hard movie, A Good Day to Die Hard. After standing tall next to Hollywood titan Bruce Willis, it is easy to see why he was cast in Unbroken. In the movie, Courtney played real-life war hero Hugh “Cup” Cuppernell, a tough, no-nonsense soldier who sadly lost his life when his plane was shot down.
After Unbroken, Courtney continued his ascend in Hollywood, starring in Terminator Genisys the next year, and Suicide Squad the year after that. More recently, he has starred in popular TV shows like The Terminal List, Love, Death & Robots, and Kaleidoscope. He is next set to star alongside Taylor Kitsch in the mini-series, American Primeval. Want to read more about the cast of Unbroken? Here is every time Jack O’Connell has played a real-life person.
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