Peter Berg Faces Backlash Over 2013 Anti-Gamer Remarks for CoD Film

Peter Berg, director of the upcoming live-action Call of Duty movie set for release in June 2028, faces early backlash after comments from a 2013 interview resurfaced, in which he described players of war video games as pathetic and weak.

Paramount Pictures and Activision announced the project earlier this year, with Berg directing from a script by Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone. In a joint statement, the companies pledged to thrill the franchise's global fan base by capturing its rich narrative and distinctive style in an authentic experience for longtime players and newcomers. Paramount Chairman David Ellison, who said he has spent countless hours playing Call of Duty games, emphasized a commitment to excellence comparable to the studio's work on Top Gun: Maverick.

The controversy stems from Berg's 2013 Esquire interview, conducted while promoting his film Lone Survivor. Asked about war video games as an advocate for American manhood, Berg replied, "Pathetic. 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...