CALL OF DUTY Movie Director’s Old Comments About Gamers Resurface and They’re Rough

The upcoming Call of Duty movie should be an easy win. It’s based on one of the biggest gaming franchises ever, it has a writer who knows how to craft intense drama, and a director with experience handling gritty action. But there’s an awkward wrinkle that’s hard to ignore, and it comes straight from the director himself.

The film adaptation of Call of Duty is being written by Taylor Sheridan, the mind behind Yellowstone, and directed by Peter Berg, known for movies like Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon. That creative combo sounds like a solid foundation for a grounded, boots-on-the-ground war story.

But some older comments from Berg have resurfaced, and they paint a very different picture of how he feels about video games and the people who play them.

Back in a 2013 interview, Berg didn’t hold back when talking about war-themed games like Call of Duty. When asked about them, he told Esquire (via Neat on ResetEra):

"Pathetic. Keyboard courage. Can't stand it. The only people that I give a Call of Duty get-out-of-jail-free card to is the military. They're out there serving and they're bored and they want to entertain themselves? Okay, maybe. Kids? Uh-uh."

Yeah… not exactly the kind of quote you want floating around when you’re directing a movie based on that exact franchise.

And he didn’t stop there. When the topic turned to Navy SEALs playing games like Call of Duty, Berg doubled down:

"Some of them do. But I tell them I think it's pathetic. I think anyone that sits around playing video games for four hours ... it's weak. Get out, do something."

That’s a pretty harsh stance, especially considering the massive global audience that’s made Call of Duty a multi-billion-dollar juggernaut for Activision.

This puts the film in a strange position. Not only does Call of Duty lack a single iconic central character to anchor a movie narrative, but now it’s also tied to a director who, at least at one point, seemed to have little respect for the medium it comes from.

To be fair, Berg’s career has had its highs and lows. He’s delivered strong, emotionally driven films like Patriots Day and Friday Night Lights, but he’s also behind Battleship, which didn’t exactly light up the box office. So while he’s capable of delivering intense action, consistency hasn’t always been his strong suit.

From a business standpoint, this kind of adaptation carries real risk. Video games like Call of Duty generate far more revenue globally than most films ever could.

A poorly received movie doesn’t just flop, it can damage the brand. That’s part of why companies like Rockstar Games have famously avoided turning Grand Theft Auto into a film. The downside outweighs the upside.

Which makes this situation even more interesting. At one point, even Steven Spielbergreportedly expressed interest in directing a Call of Duty movie, and that didn’t happen. Now the project is moving forward with Berg, baggage and all.

Of course, a lot can change in a decade. Berg may not feel the same way today, or he may simply be approaching this as a straight war film rather than a video game adaptation. Either way, those comments are out there, and they’re not going unnoticed.

The Call of Duty movie is currently set to hit theaters on June 30, 2028. Between its massive built-in audience and the talent involved, it has the potential to be something huge.

But right now, there’s a very loud question hanging over it: can a director who once dismissed gamers connect with the very audience this movie depends on?