"War Path" began as a music video. In May 2012, Linkin Park put on a contest for filmmakers to make a music video to their song "Burn It Down." Writer/Director Casey de Fremery then directed a video utilizing the basic plot of the movie (Hitman gets revenge on his employer after they kidnap his wife). The video entry did not win the contest but emboldened by the experience, he went about writing a feature length version of the story.