Why Peter Berg Says the ‘Call of Duty’ Movie Won’t Feel Like a Superhero Film

For years, fans have argued over which corner of the ‘Call of Duty’ universe would be the first to hit the big screen. The ‘Modern Warfare’ storyline began with ‘Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’ in 2007, the first games to break from the series’ original World War II setting. That shift helped turn the franchise into a pop culture heavyweight, so it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came calling.

Paramount and Activision are partnering on development and production, with Peter Berg writing and directing, Taylor Sheridan co-writing and David Glasser producing. The film is set for release on June 30, 2028, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original game. Berg’s résumé includes ‘Friday Night Lights’, ‘Patriots Day’, ‘Deepwater Horizon’ and, notably, the Will Smith superhero movie ‘Hancock’.

That last credit makes Berg’s latest comments all the more interesting. Speaking to Variety, the director pushed back on the idea that the film will play like a comic book blockbuster. He said the story is about “the cost of war and having to be a warrior,” and he drew a firm line between the game’s heroes and anything out of a graphic novel.

“These are not, and no disrespect, cartoon characters or comic books,” Berg said, pointing to Captain Price, Soap, Ghost and Alex as “complicated humans.” He described the missions and storylines as “very nuanced” and said there is “a real soul” to the ‘Modern Warfare’ universe.

Berg did not shy away from the franchise’s reputation, either. He acknowledged the violence, hardware and killing, but argued that the game and its creators are really examining the burden carried by warriors who put themselves between real danger and everyone else. It is a pitch for a character-driven war drama rather than a franchise spectacle.

The setting itself is a recent reveal. During a ‘Call of Duty in Culture’ panel at Fanatics Fest in NYC, Berg told fans the movie is based on the ‘Modern Warfare’ games. At the panel, he mentioned Captain Price, Soap, Gaz, Alex Keller, General Shepherd and Ghost, though he did not explicitly confirm that all of them will appear in the film.

The tone he describes fits the era the film is drawing from. Adapting the rebooted ‘Modern Warfare’ era would mean the movie takes place in a grounded continuity. Berg tends to stage tactile, boots-on-the-ground set pieces with a documentary edge, while Sheridan writes terse dialogue and morally grey characters. On paper, that pairing lines up neatly with the “complicated humans” Berg keeps describing.

Casting remains the big unknown. In the rebooted games, Captain Price was played by Barry Sloane, Soap by Neil Ellice, Ghost by Samuel Roukin and Alex by Chad Michael Collins. Mark Wahlberg has reportedly been rumored for the film, according to scooper Daniel Richtman, with fans speculating he could play Price. Nothing has been confirmed, so that one is best treated as chatter for now.

Fan reaction has been mixed. Some fans are excited to see Captain Price, Ghost and other familiar characters on the big screen, while others have criticized the setting and the possible casting of Price. Some wanted a different corner of the franchise, and others simply worry about how a series known for set-piece chaos will translate to a grounded film.

Still, Berg’s message is clear. If he pulls it off, the ‘Call of Duty’ movie will be less about capes and catchphrases and more about what the uniform costs the person wearing it, and the 2028 release date leaves plenty of time to find out.