Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg have a finished story for their Call of Duty movie. The director confirmed the news on October 23, 2026, during press for his World War II drama The Mosquito Bowl, and explained exactly what the film will be about. It will pull from the Modern Warfare games, focus on characters like Captain Price and Soap, and treat war as a burden rather than a spectacle. The film is set for June 30, 2028, from Paramount and Activision.
The Story Milestone
Development on a Call of Duty film had been stuck for nearly a decade before Paramount picked up the rights in late 2025. Sheridan joined a month later as co-writer and co-producer, with Berg directing and co-writing. At CinemaCon 2026, the studio announced the June 30, 2028 release date and confirmed the Modern Warfare setting.
Berg told ComicBook.com that he and Sheridan now have a story in place for the adaptation. He described it as an authentic translation of the games, built around the “very nuanced storylines” and the “real soul” at their core.
What the Movie Will Focus On
Berg named the characters the film will centre on: Captain Price, Soap, Ghost, and Alex. He pushed back on the idea that these are simple action figures.
“These are complicated humans. These are not – and no disrespect – cartoon characters or comic books. These are very nuanced storylines; like, there’s a real soul to the Modern Warfare universe.” — Peter Berg
He acknowledged the violence and hardware in the games but said the film will look underneath them.
“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.” — Peter Berg
Berg and Sheridan are not treating this as a popcorn action film. Polygon reported that the director emphasised the “soul” of the soldiers’ story, saying there will be a “very strong soul” and “consequence of war” within the film.
Why Modern Warfare
The Modern Warfare sub-series has seven games across original and rebooted timelines. 2011’s Modern Warfare III and the 2019 reboot each sold over 30 million copies. The games have generally received stronger reviews than other Call of Duty entries because they lean on real-world-inspired storytelling rather than pure set pieces.
That tone fits both filmmakers. Sheridan wrote Sicario and Hell or High Water, and Berg directed Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the film will release around the 25th anniversary of the Call of Duty franchise, which debuted in 2003.
The Cast Is Still Empty
No actors have been confirmed for the film. ScreenRant reported on October 22, 2026, that the studio has not finalised the official cast. Ray Nicholson, who worked with Berg on The Mosquito Bowl, said he would want to join but doubted his chances.
“I mean, that would be amazing. I’m pretty sure that they want all Brits, and I have the worst British accent of all time. So I’m working with a dialect coach secretly, 24/7. But it would be an honor to work with Peter again.” — Ray Nicholson
Rumours about Dwayne Johnson as Captain Price and Mark Wahlberg as Soap have circulated online but remain unconfirmed. Berg mentioned Captain Price, Soap, Gaz, Alex Keller, General Shepherd, and Ghost during a panel, but did not confirm casting for any of them.
A Past Comment That Still Follows the Director
A 2013 Esquire interview with Berg has resurfaced in coverage of the film. In it, he called war video games “pathetic” and described players as “weaklings”. The comment has drawn criticism from fans who question whether a director who dismissed gamers can handle the franchise with respect.
Berg has not addressed the resurfaced interview in his recent comments about the film. His current focus has been on the story’s serious approach to soldiers and sacrifice.
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Release Information
Call of Duty will open in theatres on Wednesday, June 30, 2028. Paramount Pictures and Activision Blizzard Studios are producing, with Sheridan, Berg, and David Glasser of 101 Studios as producers. The film is a theatrical release, and global rollout details outside the USA have not been announced. Sheridan and Berg previously worked together on Hell or High Water, which Sheridan wrote and Berg helped produce.
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