Actor William Moseley landed his breakout role almost two decades ago, as Peter Penvensie in 2005’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Since leaving Narnia behind, William’s other work includes Prince Liam on E! series The Royals (2015-2018), as well as recent film roles in On the Line, Land of Dreams and Artemis Fowl.
The now 37-year-old stars in new war film Murder Company, following a mismatched group of soldiers on a dangerous mission during World War 2.
The cast also includes Gilles Marini, Pooch Hall and Kelsey Grammer.
Read on below for our interview with William, to discuss Murder Company and more.
How would you set up the premise of Murder Company?
William Moseley: This happens during the D-Day invasion. We’re actually at the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a very important part of history.
During D-Day, there was an assault made on Nazi-occupied France. Basically, the film centres on a troop of guys, who are ordered to find a French resistance fighter. The French resistance fighter has information on where a high-ranking Nazi official is.
Their orders are to execute the high-ranking Nazi. And obviously, they are totally outnumbered, out-gunned, they’re out-manned. It seems like a near-impossible task – it almost is.
What’s more astonishing about the story is that it is true. This really happened to a real group of guys. They really went through this.
What attracted you to starring in the film – and to your character, Southern?
William Moseley: There were multiple levels that attracted me to the film. Obviously, when I saw Kelsey Grammer was a part of it, I knew it would be a great film. I knew it would be good.
Secondly, they offered me the lead which was a wonderful opportunity for me. To be in a war film was fantastic. A chance to do something I’d always dreamed of doing.
There are some films you connect to on a deep level – some you don’t as much. I connected on a deep level to this. Perhaps that was because both my grandfathers fought in World War 2.
One grandfather was a paratrooper, the other grandfather was in the planes when bombing the Japanese.
So, I have known about World War 2 for a very long time. I think it’s important to tell stories that you care about, if you can.
There’s already an extensive catalogue of war films in pop culture. Do you have any particular favourites that you might’ve been thinking about when doing Murder Company?
William Moseley: Absolutely. Obviously when we were shooting the film, we all wanted to band together. So, we all watched Band of Brothers at the same time. Luckily, it was on Netflix at that point so we all just watched it, watched it and watched it.
Saving Private Ryan is a massive budget version of this film. Also, there’s a film that I really, really liked. It’s called Come and See, it’s a Russian film. It’s a very dark movie about the Nazi invasion of Russia.
I saw that film when I was younger and it really stuck with me. I really wanted to give this film the authenticity it deserved.
Where can people catch Murder Company once it’s out?
William Moseley: Murder Company will be out on July 5, in select cinemas and on demand. It’s going to be on a streaming platform, but it will be out on July 5.
It’s, like, 80 years and a month from the D-Day landings.
How was your experience working with the rest of the “Murder Company” cast, including iconic Kelsey Grammer?
William Moseley: They were really great guys. Shane [Dax Taylor], our director, was not like the director on the outside, sitting in his tent. He was really in there with us, almost in front of the camera.
Basically, he was right up there with us. He was completely committed. I think when you have your director as committed as that and as caring as that, it makes you want to give anything you can.
I think all of us felt a responsibility that if we’re going to do a war film, you don’t know how many you’re going to get to do in your life. If you’re going to do it, do it right. Give it everything you’ve got and we did.
I don’t think any of us let anyone else down. We didn’t want to let each other down at the same time. If someone was tired, someone would pick that guy up.
It was very much like a band of brothers being on set, funny enough.
Had you worked with anyone in the cast before, or was everyone a first-time collaboration?
William Moseley: No, it was my first time working with all of them. Actually, that was kind of nice. None of us knew each other, so we were all just kind of getting to know each other for the first time on set.
You’re of course known to a generation for playing Peter Pevensie in the Narnia movies. Can you believe next year will mark 20 years since The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe?
William Moseley: I can’t believe I’ve been working for 20 years! Narnia was the gift that keeps on giving. I think it has stood the test of time. I didn’t know it was going to be as a big as it was when we made the film.
Somehow, it’s still in people’s minds. I was blessed from God that I got that part. Now that they’re remaking them, I know that it’s going to be something very special and I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Greta Gerwig, brilliant director, she’s incredibly astute. I hope I can go to set and see them making it.
I saw the [original] director recently, Andrew Adamson. He hasn’t changed, he’s a wonderful, incredibly brilliant man and directed those films when he was very young, before the age of 40.
“Narnia was the gift that keeps on giving. I think it has stood the test of time.”
William Moseley, Courageous Nerd (2024)
He’s directed Shrek, directed Narnia 1 and 2 – he’s a genius. I said to him, “Andrew, you’ve got to make something now. You’ve got to get back out there.”
I hope he chooses something that makes him happy. I hope he finds something that connects with him. I’d like to be in it, if he does.
Thank you so much for your time, William – and best of luck with Murder Company once it comes out.
William: Conor, thank you so much. I really appreciate your time today, thank you.
Murder Company will be out on July 5, in select cinemas and on demand.
Follow writer Conor O’Brien on Twitter.
A lifelong TV and Film buff, Conor founded Courageous Nerd in 2019. He has conducted hundreds of interviews for the site, as well as written comprehensive feature articles on a variety of topics. You can find him on X: @conorrcn.
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