MovieChat Forums > Killer Elite (2011) Discussion > DeNiro's character was an Ex-SEAL or CIA...

DeNiro's character was an Ex-SEAL or CIA or...what?

posted 11 years ago by hoboboxerjoe
3 replies | jump to latest

Was he SAS and he lost the accent? (My dad is a 1st-generation SEAL, these guys were MADE by the SAS. My dad always said the "SAS were my makers" and while he, like many SO guys in and out of the field, likes to think that his unit was the best or they were the best, but the few I've met from my pa's unit and his old mates seem really *beep* cool but...In spite of me being family and gainin some invaluable top-drawer training from these cats. It's an exclusive club, y'know? Family or not, THEY know what went down, and even to his own son there are certain methods my dad will never show me or expose me to

Anyway...He has ALWAYS considered the SAS to be the godfathers of black ops and special forces. They absolute pinnacle. Israeli Mossad and the KGB Red Room or Spetznaz, sure. The Israeli's, to my knowledge, really didn't develop into the force they are known as today for a few decades after the SAS and Spetznaz, Marine Recon, Army pukes like the Rangers and DELTA and of course the ever-epic SEALs, though Marine Recon is no joke, either, all followed. You had a lot of "on-loan" and a lot of guys being "Adopted"...I don't fully know what that means but maybe someone here with some real experience can tell me...

My dad always considered the SAS to have "adopted me" back in the beginning, hell the French and Brits were in 'Nam before we were. The Brits had been using the Special Air Services to train in Ireland, East and West Germany, The Soviet Union and basically gi'ing a big "*beep* YOU" to our American CIA while they both did our bidding and pissed on our party. Good for them.

DeNiro's character intirugues me. Clearly he is EX-Special Forces, or maybe he is still currently working black-op missions but it seemed like he was retired but still gaming and and become a full-on merc. Private Security since the end of the Civil War has always been a VERY lucrative field. Hell, before then, but let's stay within recent history.

DeNiro could have been "Adopted" by the SAS, or maybe he was CIA-branch SO? or a SEAL/Marine/Army-puke recruited by the CIA or on-loan to the SAS or...

I have no idea. I'd ask my pappy but he is in one of his moods and I'd rather not press him. We got in our 2nd fist-fight ever in my 27 years alive, and while I'm certainly a real boxer and martial artist his 65 year old ass dropped me like I was a soft-serve piece of teddy bear *beep* I wish I was a tough guy sometimes, LOL. Oh well. "My dad can beat up your dad!" :P hahaha...I'm mature. (and high on medications from being post-op/stomach cancer, I also got chemo-brain so give me a break, eh?)

[–] cpheonix 10 years ago

Not sure what De Niro's background was but I believe that team headed by the Stat had nothing to do with SAS...they were just a mercenaries for hire. It was Clive Owen's group which were SAS.

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

I believe that team headed by the Stat had nothing to do with SAS...they were just a mercenaries for hire.

Their background is never really discussed, apart from it being mentioned that they were top rate assassins and clearly mercenaries for hire.🐭

[–] kyzasoze2003 10 years ago

Was he SAS and he lost the accent? (My dad is a 1st-generation SEAL, these guys were MADE by the SAS. My dad always said the "SAS were my makers"...

It's well known that the world's Special Forces model themselves on the SAS, some even copying the logo and moto of "Who dares wins". But I would guess that SEAL's would've been more influenced by SBS who are the Royal Marines/Navy's Special Forces - SAS is Special Forces of the Army. I know that Delta Force was directly based on SAS.

DeNiro's character intirugues me. Clearly he is EX-Special Forces, or maybe he is still currently working black-op missions but it seemed like he was retired but still gaming and and become a full-on merc.

DeNiro's character would've been ex-Special Forces, who did Black Ops then probably became a Merc where he formed a friendship/Mentor with Statham. However, his character was not in the book and was made up for the film, to give Statham's character some purpose and sympathy from the audience. The book doesn't end up so positive for Danny.

that team headed by the Stat had nothing to do with SAS...they were just a mercenaries for hire

It was implied in the film that the guy (MFWIC) who hired Statham's were MI6, who usually hire SAS/SBS to to their jobs, but since they were the targets in this case they hired Statham's team who were Mercs. It is implied in the film that Statham was ex-SAS, when he said to Owen that "you and me have alot in common". However in the book upon which they film was based, Statham was an ex-US Marine, turned Merc/Hitman.