After the Breakers rose – monstrous creatures that infect and twist their victims – men fell first, leaving women to lead the fight for survival. In this perilous new world, Willa’s mother is one of the war’s fiercest warriors, while her father, a battle-scarred veteran, hides with Willa on a remote island, training her in the skills she will need to endure. Their fragile peace is upended when a mysterious girl drifts ashore. Willa, desperate for connection, shelters her in secret – but the truth cannot stay hidden, and danger follows swiftly. With the Breakers closing in, Willa must rely on her father’s guidance and her own courage to survive.
As Worldbreaker releases in American theatres, our Peter Gray spoke with Luke Evans and Billie Boullet to talk about the bond at the heart of the story, the challenges of filming in extreme conditions, and the ways this intimate father-daughter tale turns a post-apocalyptic survival story into something quietly profound and deeply human.
I wanted to ask about the trust between you two, because the film relies on this very believable sense of history between your characters, even before the story begins. How quickly did you feel that trust on set? Was there a moment where you realized, “Okay, we’re holding on to each other here”?
Luke Evans: I think we found it at the same time. I’m an older actor now and I felt a sense of responsibility to make Billie feel safe – not just comfortable, but safe in the sense that she could take risks, and I’d support any choices she made. That was important because it’s just the two of us for most of the story – 90% of the film is on the island with just us. I wasn’t sure if we’d click at first, but it felt natural. We found our synergy quickly. I also tried to make Billie laugh whenever the cameras weren’t rolling – long nights, lots of night shoots. I think I succeeded about eight out of ten times.
Billie Boullet: Yeah, you did quite well.
Billie, playing Willa feels almost like stepping into adulthood on screen. She’s not just growing up in the film – she’s forced to decide what kind of person she’ll be. Was there a specific moment where you felt Willa cross the line from being trained to truly responsible for her own moral choices?
Billie Boullet: Definitely. I think it happens when she goes after the bird eggs, despite her father warning her it’s too dangerous. That climb – dangling off the cliff – shows her stepping into her own decisions, doing what she wants without needing her father’s permission. That’s when she really grows into herself.
Luke, you play a father whose role is “ending” in this world – men are fading, and he’s preparing his daughter for a future that won’t include him. How did that sense of becoming obsolete shape your performance?
Luke Evans: Well, my character has an old wound, which he’s been managing with pain medication. The environment they escape from is war-torn, with minimal rations and constant threats. On the island, his focus is entirely on his daughter and survival, but the pain from his leg slowly breaks him down. By the end, the father – the stronger figure at the beginning – is physically weaker, and that shift affects their dynamic.
The final shot of the film is incredible and hints at what might happen next. Billie, Willa spends much of the film isolated, trained to distrust connection, and then the character of Rosie appears. How did you balance her craving for companionship with her instinct to stay distant?
Billie Boullet: It was tricky. Willa is desperate for connection, so sometimes she suppresses her instincts. But she’s also cautious – she doesn’t immediately bring Rosie back to her father, for instance. She wants to be the hero and protect both her father and Rosie, finding that balance between closeness and caution.
The film isn’t really about monsters – it’s about what we become when the structures we rely on disappear. What do you hope audiences discover about themselves while watching Willa and her father fight to the end?
Luke Evans: I hope people put themselves in their shoes. It’s about bond, survival, self-sacrifice, and the lengths you’ll go to protect someone else. The creatures are terrifying, but it’s really a journey about human connection, perseverance, and the choices we make in extreme circumstances.
Billie Boullet: I’d like people to appreciate stillness. The film isn’t constantly action-packed – it’s about what happens after the fight, the silence, the small moments of survival. Willa and her father go through everything together and then face loss. I hope audiences take away the importance of valuing the people they love, even in difficult times. Life isn’t always fast-paced, and sometimes it’s worth just taking a breath and appreciating those around you.
Couldn’t end on a better note than that.
Worldbreaker is screening in theatres in the United States from January 30th, 2026. An Australian release date is yet to be determined.
