John Kinley is a fictional character who appears in the 2023 film Guy Ritchie's The Covenant. He serves as one of the two protagonists of the film. This character is portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal.
Throughout Guy Ritchie's The Covenant[]
In March 2018, during the War in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sergeant John Kinley encountered a life-altering event. His unit fell victim to a Taliban-orchestrated truck bomb attack during a routine vehicle inspection in Lashkargah, resulting in the death of his interpreter. Seeking a replacement, Kinley was introduced to Ahmed Abdullah, an interpreter driven primarily by financial motives. However, during an undercover mission, Kinley discovered Ahmed's prior affiliation with the Taliban through the opium trade. Despite this revelation, Ahmed's subsequent actions, including saving Kinley's team from a Taliban ambush, earned Kinley's respect. Surviving subsequent attacks and navigating the challenging Afghan terrain, Kinley and Ahmed developed a bond based on mutual trust and reliance.
Seven weeks later, Kinley, now back in California, discovered the danger Ahmed and his family faced due to their involvement in past events. Despite unsuccessful attempts to secure U.S. visas for them, Kinley, emotionally burdened, decided to undertake a personal mission to rescue Ahmed. Operating under the alias Ron Kay, Kinley sought assistance from Lieutenant Colonel Vokes and private military contractor Parker. This endeavor led to perilous encounters, including with the Taliban and near-capture at a checkpoint.
Upon locating Ahmed's hideout, Kinley persuaded him and his family to accompany him to the U.S. The mission took a dangerous turn as Parker, realizing Kinley's true identity, provided crucial air support to counter the Taliban threat. A fierce gunfight ensued at Darunta Dam, where Kinley and Ahmed, despite exhausting their ammunition, were ultimately rescued by the arrival of the AC-130 gunship and Apache attack helicopter. Parker, recognizing Kinley's sacrifice, acknowledged that he would have supported the mission for free.
Escorted back to Bagram, the group left Afghanistan on an Airbus A400M. The film concluded with a sobering note about the fate of Afghan interpreters, highlighting the grim reality that over 300 interpreters affiliated with the U.S. military were murdered by the Taliban after the organization's recapture of Afghanistan, with thousands more living in hiding.
Appearances[]
- Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (2023)