Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Information

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a 2016 American war comedy film directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, and written by Robert Carlock, based on the memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker. The film stars Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Christopher Abbott, Alfred Molina and Billy Bob Thornton. It was released on March 4, 2016 by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

While working as a war correspondent in Afghanistan and Pakistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, Kim Baker (Tina Fey) develops a crazy relationship with a fellow journalist from Scotland (Martin Freeman).

Cast

• Tina Fey as Kim Baker
• Margot Robbie as Tanya Vanderpoel
• Martin Freeman as Iain MacKelpie
• Christopher Abbott as Fahim Ahmadzai
• Billy Bob Thornton as Gen. Hollanek, US Marine Corps
• Alfred Molina as Ali Massoud Sadiq
• Sheila Vand as Shakira El-Khoury
• Nicholas Braun as Tall Brian
• Steve Peacocke as Nic
• Evan Jonigkeit as Coughlin
• Scott Takeda as Ed Faber
• Josh Charles as Chris
• Cherry Jones as Geri Taub
• Sterling K. Brown as Sgt. Hurd

Production

In February 2014, American actress Tina Fey confirmed that her production company, Little Stranger, would be adapting the memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, into a film. Fey will star in the lead role, which will be produced by Lorne Michaels and written by Robert Carlock. On June 30, 2014, Paramount tapped Glenn Ficarra and John Requa to direct the film. On October 22, 2014, Margot Robbie joined the film to play a competing reporter alongside Fey's character. On November 20, 2014, Martin Freeman was in talks to play Fey's character's unexpected love interest and a dedicated Scottish photojournalist. On January 10, 2015, it was reported that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was in talks to join the film for the male lead role. On February 2, 2015, Christopher Abbott joined the film's cast. On February 3, 2015, Nicholas Braun had joined the film to play Tall Brian, Fey's character's cameraman, and film was titled as Fun House. On February 9, 2015, Steve Peacocke was set to star in the film, he would play Nic, Fey's character's alpha-male bodyguard. On February 11, 2015, confirmed cast was announced along with Billy Bob Thornton, Alfred Molina, Sheila Vand and Evan Jonigkeit also joined the cast of the film, in which Vand would play, Shakira El-Khoury, a Lebanese reporter who works alongside Kim and Tanya.

In an interview with USA Today, Fey confirmed that the film's title is going to be Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Kim Barker is changed to a cable-news reporter. Margot Robbie is playing Tanya Vanderpoel, a British TV journalist whom Kim admires and befriends. Christopher Abbott plays Afghan "fixer"? Fahim Ahmadzai, who acts as driver, translator and all-around handyman for reporters. Martin Freeman is Iain MacKelpie, a Scottish war photographer, Kim Barker's love interest. Rounding out the ensemble cast is Billy Bob Thornton as Gen. Hollanek, a military man who initially scares Kim, and Alfred Molina is a local official who has a crush on her.

Filming

On February 3, 2015, Albuquerque Journal reported that the filming was underway in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Fey was spotted filming in the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. On February 11, 2015, Paramount also confirmed that principal photography had commenced on the film in New Mexico. Production on the film concluded on April 10, 2015.

Release

The film was originally titled The Taliban Shuffle and Fun House before settling on Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. It has been scheduled for release on March 4, 2016 and received an R rating from the MPAA.

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, pre-release tracking suggest the film will gross $10-12 million from 2,374 theaters in its opening weekend, trailing fellow newcomers Zootopia ($60-70 million projection) and London Has Fallen ($20-23 million projection).

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 62%, based on 104 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "While WTF is far from FUBAR, Tina Fey and Martin Freeman are just barely enough to overcome the picture's glib predictability and limited worldview." Metacritic gives the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".