A House of Dynamite Cast Guide: Who Plays Who in the Netflix Thriller

Nivedita Dubey
October 26, 2025

Key Points:

A House of Dynamite features a star-studded ensemble led by Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson.
The cast portrays U.S. leadership facing a terrifying nuclear crisis inside the White House Situation Room.
The film is directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Noah Oppenheim, now streaming on Netflix.

Kathryn Bigelow is known for turning real-world pressure into gripping cinema, and her 2025 Netflix thriller A House of Dynamite continues that legacy. Set over 18 intense minutes, the film thrusts the U.S. government into crisis when a nuclear missile is detected speeding toward Chicago. At the center of this real-time thriller is a powerhouse cast embodying military leaders, political advisors, and first responders scrambling to prevent disaster. Here’s a complete breakdown of the cast, their roles, and how they fit into the story’s escalating tension.

Who Stars in A House of Dynamite on Netflix?

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE _ Official Trailer _ Netflix

A House of Dynamite brings together a large ensemble that reflects the many agencies and command structures involved in nuclear emergency response. The characters are spread across the White House, Strategic Command, the Pentagon, Fort Greely in Alaska, and secure transport units around the President.

Below is a look at each major performer and their role in the network of crisis decision-makers.

Actor	Character
Idris Elba	The President of the United States
Rebecca Ferguson	Captain Olivia Walker, senior officer in the White House Situation Room
Gabriel Basso	Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington
Jared Harris	Secretary of Defense Reid Baker
Tracy Letts	General Anthony Brady, Combatant Commander of STRATCOM
Anthony Ramos	Major Daniel Gonzalez, Fort Greely commander
Moses Ingram	Cathy Rogers, FEMA official
Jonah Hauer-King	Lieutenant Commander Robert Reeves, Presidential Military Aide
Greta Lee	Ana Park, NSA intelligence officer for North Korea
Jason Clarke	Admiral Mark Miller, Director of the Situation Room
Brian Tee	SAIC Ken Cho, head of the Secret Service detail
Brittany O’Grady	Lily Baerington, congressional aide and Jake’s wife
Gbenga Akinnagbe	Major General Steven Kyle, Director of STRATCOM operations
Willa Fitzgerald	Abby Jansing, White House Press Room journalist
Renée Elise Goldsberry	The First Lady
Kyle Allen	Captain Jon Zimmer, B-2 bomber pilot
Kaitlyn Dever	Caroline Baker, Reid Baker’s daughter

Idris Elba — The President of the United States

Idris Elba anchors the film as the U.S. Commander-in-Chief who must ultimately decide whether to retaliate against the detected nuclear strike. When the crisis begins, he’s away from Washington at a public event — a reminder that disaster doesn’t wait for convenient timing. As real-time intelligence breaks apart under pressure, the President becomes the final authority in a decision that could end or destroy civilization.

Elba brings calm force to a character trapped between instinct, responsibility, and global consequence.

Rebecca Ferguson — Captain Olivia Walker

Rebecca Ferguson stars as Captain Walker, a senior officer inside the White House Situation Room whose morning begins like any other — until alerts of an incoming intercontinental missile upend everything. She balances national duty with personal fear, as her family remains inside the potential blast zone. Walker’s ability to think clearly during the countdown becomes one of the film’s emotional throughlines.

Gabriel Basso — Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington

Gabriel Basso’s Baerington is thrust into leadership when his superior can’t be reached. He must coordinate between agencies and relay intelligence while running toward the White House. Baerington’s urgency reflects a key theme of the film: the system only works if every person inside it keeps moving.

Jared Harris — Secretary of Defense Reid Baker

Jared Harris portrays the Secretary of Defense, a man whose strategic mindset collapses when he learns Chicago is the most likely strike location — where his daughter lives. Baker’s unraveling becomes one of the film’s most harrowing personal stories and reveals the fragile humanity under the highest offices of government.

Tracy Letts — General Anthony Brady, STRATCOM Commander

Tracy Letts plays General Brady, a high-ranking military leader responsible for planning the U.S. response. Brady embodies cold strategic thinking, urging decisive action even when intelligence is incomplete. His role asks one of the central questions of nuclear doctrine: react now, or risk reacting too late?

Anthony Ramos — Major Daniel Gonzalez, Fort Greely Commander

Anthony Ramos portrays the officer overseeing the U.S. missile defense response from Fort Greely, Alaska. His team launches interceptors to destroy the incoming missile — the nation’s first and best line of defense. When technology fails, Gonzalez must confront the devastating possibility that millions of lives can no longer be saved.

Moses Ingram — Cathy Rogers, FEMA Official

Moses Ingram appears as a federal emergency coordinator dealing with the worst-case scenario of mass casualty preparation. Her role emphasizes that nuclear response doesn’t stop at war rooms — civilians must also brace for impact.

Jonah Hauer-King — Lt. Cmdr. Robert Reeves, Presidential Military Aide

Jonah Hauer-King plays Reeves, the officer responsible for the nuclear football — the briefcase containing launch codes. His steady calm beside the President underscores the weight of procedure when seconds count.

Greta Lee — Ana Park, NSA North Korea Specialist

Greta Lee’s character joins the crisis from an unconventional location and must quickly bring her intelligence expertise into play. Her role highlights how quickly modern security communication channels activate — even across disrupted personal moments.

Jason Clarke — Admiral Mark Miller, Situation Room Director

Jason Clarke portrays the naval officer in charge of maintaining the President’s link to every branch of the national defense apparatus. His job isn’t simply gathering information — it’s deciding which rapidly changing intelligence can actually be trusted.

Brian Tee — SAIC Ken Cho, Secret Service Leader

Brian Tee takes on the responsibility of getting the President to secure transport and shielding him from the chaos unfolding around him. His character represents how the government must protect the commander-in-chief even while the commander-in-chief makes decisions affecting millions more.

Brittany O’Grady — Lily Baerington, Congressional Aide

Brittany O’Grady plays the spouse of Gabriel Basso’s character, adding another layer of separation and fear as partners become disconnected in the emergency. She embodies the families left behind to worry, wait, and hope.

Gbenga Akinnagbe — Major General Steven Kyle, STRATCOM Operations

Gbenga Akinnagbe supports the film’s depiction of the chain of command at Strategic Command — the hub of U.S. nuclear defense planning. His character helps interpret missile readings and possible origins.

Willa Fitzgerald — Abby Jansing, White House Press Journalist

Willa Fitzgerald portrays a member of the press corps unaware of the scope of the disaster unfolding down the hall. Her character reflects information control — and the pause before panic goes public.

Renée Elise Goldsberry — The First Lady

Renée Elise Goldsberry appears as the President’s wife, traveling overseas as the crisis erupts. Her separation from the President deepens the uncertainty and humanizes the global stakes.

Kyle Allen — Captain Jon Zimmer, B-2 Bomber Pilot

Kyle Allen appears as one of the officers awaiting potential retaliatory strike orders. His presence represents the far-reaching military domino that could fall based on a single decision.

Kaitlyn Dever — Caroline Baker

Kaitlyn Dever plays the Secretary of Defense’s daughter — an ordinary civilian unknowingly standing at ground zero. Her scenes emphasize the blunt reality that nuclear war doesn’t distinguish between targets and bystanders.

Who Made A House of Dynamite?

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE Official Trailer Netflix 10 — A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE _ Official Trailer _ Netflix

The film is directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.
The screenplay is written by Noah Oppenheim, known for his political storytelling and deep research approach.

Producers