The Mosquito Bowl director Peter Berg spoke with ComingSoon about Netflix’s new World War II movie. Berg discussed the film’s use of archival footage and how he got Pat McAfee involved in a surprising role. It’s out in select theaters on October 30, 2026, before releasing on Netflix on November 25, 2026.
“Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four of America’s top college football stars set their fame aside to enlist in the Marines. As they prepare for the brutal invasion of Okinawa, they’ll play in a legendary game featuring some of the greatest players in history — a game that, for many, will be the last they ever play,” says the official synopsis.
Tyler Treese: Peter, congrats on The Mosquito Bowl. I found the film very impactful. One of the elements I really liked was that you intercut archival footage all throughout the film, and it pays off in this really powerful moment at the end. I’d love to hear your thought process on when to use that, because I thought that was really effective.
Peter Berg: So when I was writing the script, I was researching footage from World War II. There was a photographer named Norm Hatch who won an Academy Award for his combat photography. There’s a film called With the Marines at Tarawa, which I recommend anybody that’s interested in this kind of thing watch.
It’s extraordinary footage, very emotional to watch. So I had that in my mind, in my heart, when I was editing the film. And I looked at my editors and said, “Are we allowed to put some of this footage in the film? Is there a rule against that?” And there is no rule, right? There’s no rule against it.
So we started playing with putting real footage from World War II, from the Bob Hope performances, some of the real football footage of our guys playing football back in the States. And I really liked it because it just served as a reminder that this really happened, that this is real stuff. And there was nothing glorious or cool or thrilling.
It was terrifying, and it was really tragic on both sides. What was happening to these young Americans and what was happening to these young Japanese was really horrific.
And there are reasons for the war, and we did need to go and respond. But that doesn’t dilute from the tragedy of the death and the loss of innocence.
And having that footage, for me, just reinforced that. We played with how much of it to use and how to use it and when to use it. And I really like it. I think it brings home the reality of this situation to me.
Yeah, it really made me choke up while watching because it reinforces that this all happened, obviously.
I also really liked seeing Pat McAfee in this film. I saw him on the cast list, and I was like, “Oh, he must be a football player.” But no, he’s a drill sergeant. He’s screaming at everybody. It’s a really fun scene. How was it getting him involved?
Peter Berg: So he called me, and he has a good friend who’s a drill instructor at Parris Island. And Pat has a long connection with the Marine Corps and a respect for the Marine Corps. He’s like, “Look, I’m pretty busy right now, but if there’s any way I could participate in this story, I would be honored to.” Not honored to work with me, honored to represent the Marine Corps.
I’m like, “Well, would you take it seriously?”
He said, “Well, how about if I just told you I’d go live down at Parris Island for a week?”
And I’m like, “Well, how are you going to do that?”
He said, “I’ll figure it out. I’ll do my show from South Carolina. Someone else can host my show.”
I said, “Would you really do that?”
He said, “Yes.”
He went down there, spent a week sleeping on the base. He had a little bus, but he parked the bus on the property of the base and spent days with the Marines and really was dedicated. Shut his show down for three weeks, flew out to Australia with us, and took it really, really seriously.
I’m very proud of him. Didn’t have to do it. Certainly didn’t need the money, but he wanted to be a part of that piece of history. He wanted to spend time with Marines and service members and let them know how much he cared.
Thanks to Peter Berg for taking the time to talk about The Mosquito Bowl.
