When you search for the cast of Battle of Los Angeles, things get messy fast. Seriously. Half the time, the internet thinks you’re looking for the big-budget Sony blockbuster with Aaron Eckhart. You aren't. You’re likely looking for the 2011 mockbuster from The Asylum, that scrappy studio famous for riding the coattails of Hollywood hits. Or maybe you're down a rabbit hole about the real-life 1942 "Great Los Angeles Air Raid."
Let’s get one thing straight: the actors in the 2011 independent film Battle of Los Angeles had a tough job. They had to sell a global alien invasion on a fraction of a studio budget. They did it with a mix of B-movie grit and surprisingly earnest performances.
The Faces You Recognize: Leading the Resistance
The heavy lifting in this flick falls on Nia Peeples. You might know her from Pretty Little Liars or Walker, Texas Ranger. In this movie, she plays Capt. Karla Smaith. Honestly, she’s the anchor here. While the CGI aliens around her look... well, let’s say "economical," Peeples brings a level of intensity that makes you forget the green screen for a second. She’s got that classic action-hero stoicism down to a science.
Then there's Kel Mitchell. Yes, that Kel Mitchell. From Kenan & Kel and Good Burger.
It’s a bit of a trip seeing Orange Soda’s biggest fan playing Lt. Tyler Laughlin. He’s not doing comedy here. He’s playing it straight. It’s a polarizing performance for some fans because it’s so far removed from his Nickelodeon roots, but he holds his own in the action sequences. He’s the heart of the unit, trying to navigate a Los Angeles that’s basically being erased by spacecraft.
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The Supporting Players and the 1940s Twist
One of the weirdest—and arguably coolest—parts of the Battle of Los Angeles script is the character of Capt. Pete Rodgers, played by Dylan Vox. The movie throws a curveball by introducing a pilot who went missing during the actual 1942 Battle of Los Angeles and somehow returns in 2011, having not aged a day.
Vox plays it with a "fish out of water" vibe that adds a needed layer of mystery. It shifts the movie from a standard "shoot 'em up" to something slightly more sci-fi and cerebral.
The rest of the squad includes:
- Theresa June-Tao as Solano. She brings the muscle.
- Gerald Webb as Newman. Webb is a staple in these types of productions and knows exactly how to deliver exposition while looking tactical.
- Edward DeRuiter as Arnstead. He’s the technical brains often found in these scripts.
Why the Confusion with Battle: Los Angeles?
We have to address the elephant in the room. Most people looking for the cast of Battle of Los Angeles accidentally stumble upon the $70 million movie Battle: Los Angeles (note the colon). That one stars Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, and Michael Peña.
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It’s a common mix-up. The Asylum released their version just days before the big-budget one hit theaters. It’s a classic marketing tactic. But the casts couldn't be more different. While Eckhart is playing a grizzled staff sergeant in a gritty, shaky-cam war flick, Kel Mitchell and Nia Peeples are leading a more colorful, high-concept survival story.
If you're watching a movie and you see Ne-Yo or Bridget Moynahan, you’re watching the Sony version. If you see Captain Pete Rodgers talking about the 1940s while dodging lasers in a warehouse, you’ve found the Asylum cast.
A Legacy of B-Movie Grit
The cast of Battle of Los Angeles represents a specific niche in Hollywood. These aren't "A-list" stars in the traditional sense, but they are the backbone of independent genre cinema. Nia Peeples, for instance, has a career spanning decades, moving from pop music to soap operas to action cinema.
Working on a film like this is a marathon. The shooting schedules are incredibly short—often less than three weeks. Actors have to memorize huge chunks of dialogue on the fly and react to monsters that aren't actually there, often with very little visual guidance. It takes a specific kind of professional to make that look even remotely believable.
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Behind the Scenes: Direction and Production
The film was directed by Mark Atkins, who is basically a legend in the world of low-budget sci-fi. He’s directed dozens of these things. He knows how to make a parking garage look like a secret military installation.
The production was handled by David Michael Latt, David Rimawi, and Paul Bales. These guys are the masterminds behind Sharknado. They understand that the audience for these films wants fast pacing and a high body count. The cast was chosen because they could deliver that "straight-to-video" energy that fans of the genre crave.
What to Do If You Want to Watch It
If you’re diving into this because of the cast, keep your expectations in check. This isn't Independence Day. It’s a fun, low-budget romp.
- Check the title carefully. Look for "The Asylum" logo in the opening credits to make sure you have the right one.
- Appreciate the practical effects. When they aren't using CGI, the cast is often working with real pyrotechnics and tactical gear.
- Follow the actors. Kel Mitchell has had a massive resurgence lately with the Good Burger sequel. Nia Peeples remains active in the indie circuit. Supporting actors like Gerald Webb have moved into significant producing roles.
The cast of Battle of Los Angeles might not have won Oscars for this one, but they created a cult classic that still gets talked about on late-night streaming marathons. It’s a snapshot of a very specific era of 2010s digital filmmaking where anyone with a camera and a few recognizable faces could take on a Hollywood giant.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, watch the 1942 documentary footage of the actual Los Angeles air raid first. It gives the fictional Pete Rodgers character much more context. From there, you can find the film on most free, ad-supported streaming platforms like Tubi or Pluto TV, where it frequently rotates. Check the filmography of Dylan Vox if you enjoy the campy sci-fi element; he’s a frequent collaborator in this genre and often brings a similar energy to his other projects.