Director Peter Berg has offered new insights into the forthcoming Call of Duty live-action film, describing it as an adaptation with a "very strong soul" that will delve into "the cost of war."
Speaking with ComicBook, Berg elaborated on his vision for the Skydance-Paramount project, which is set to adapt the popular Modern Warfare portion of the franchise. He and writer Taylor Sheridan are reportedly drawing heavily from the games' narratives and characters for inspiration. Berg highlighted the complexity of characters such as Captain Price, Soap, and Ghost, noting that the Modern Warfare universe offers "very nuanced storylines" and "a real soul."
"And, yes, there's violence, and there's hardware, and equipment, and there's killing – but underneath it I think the game, and the craters of the game, are really looking at the cost of war, the cost of having to be a warrior who's, for whatever reason, chosen to put himself between real danger and the rest of us, and the burden that these guys carry," Berg explained.
Berg acknowledged past criticisms he leveled against video games in 2013, where he described them as "pathetic" and a form of "keyboard courage." However, he now appears to have a different perspective, expressing an appreciation for the Modern Warfare characters and their depth. His upcoming film, The Mosquito Bowl, is a sports-war film, and his focus will shift to Call of Duty following its release.
"And that’s real stuff," Berg added regarding the game's connection to the realities of war. "This is not just 'Hey, let’s shoot them all up and shoot popcorn!' Like, there’s a soul underneath it, that I understand that Taylor Sheridan understands, and I think probably not quite as graphically violent as Mosquito Bowl, but there will be a very strong soul, and consequence of war within the film, called 'duty.'"
The Call of Duty movie is slated for a June 30, 2028 release. Further plot details remain undisclosed, but the announcement has already sparked fan speculation regarding casting for iconic characters. The film is set to arrive in a period with increased interest in video game adaptations, with an Elden Ring film also scheduled for release earlier in the year, and a Battlefield movie also in development.