Four promising college football stars leave their athletic dreams behind to serve their country in The Mosquito Bowl, an upcoming World War II drama directed by Peter Berg. Starring Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You), Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu), Ray Nicholson (Novocaine, Smile 2), and Tom Francis (Sunset Boulevard), the film arrives on Netflix on November 25, bringing to life a remarkable true story of courage, sacrifice, and brotherhood during one of history’s most devastating conflicts.
Set against the Pacific campaign of World War II, the film follows John McLaughry (Galitzine), Bob Bauman (Skarsgård), Tony Butkovich (Nicholson), and David Schreiner (Francis), four of America’s outstanding college football players who abandon their promising athletic careers to enlist in the Marines following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their transition from celebrated athletes to young servicemen exposes them to the brutal realities of war, testing their courage and strengthening the bonds they form along the way.
Adapted from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Buzz Bissinger’s bestselling nonfiction book The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II, the film recounts the experiences of college football players who joined the military and the extraordinary game that brought many of them together before the Battle of Okinawa. Berg, known for directing Friday Night Lights and Lone Survivor, approaches the story with a commitment to historical authenticity and honoring the Marines who sacrificed their lives in 1944 and 1945. The director describes the project as a reality-based film that recognizes the experiences of real people and the sacrifices they made.
The four lead actors underwent intense preparations to bring their characters’ experiences to life, with production emphasizing practical effects and immersive action sequences. Galitzine described the experience as unlike anything he had encountered in his acting career, citing explosions, burning trees, and the physical demands of performing scenes with limited reliance on stunt doubles. Beyond the intense war sequences, Berg also wanted to highlight love, compassion, and human connection amid traumatic circumstances. Skarsgård likewise reflected on the camaraderie developed among the cast, drawing parallels between the brotherhood found in football, the Marine Corps, and their own experience making the film.
Each actor portrays a real-life athlete with a distinct personality and background. Galitzine plays McLaughry, a natural leader who previously played quarterback for Brown University; Skarsgård portrays Bauman, a larger-than-life University of Wisconsin player known for his fearless attitude; Nicholson takes on the role of Purdue standout Butkovich, an exceptional offensive player who set records for the university; and Francis plays Schreiner, another Wisconsin athlete whose measured and strategic approach complements his teammate Bauman. The film was shot in Australia, with locations in Queensland and northern New South Wales standing in for Marine training grounds and the Pacific Theater.
Berg directs and produces The Mosquito Bowl, continuing his creative partnership with Netflix and Film 44 following American Primeval and Painkiller. Production credits also include Brian Grazer for Imagine Entertainment and Alex Gayner, while Ezra Emanuel, Bissinger, and Jeb Brody serve as executive producers. With its combination of historical storytelling, intense battle sequences, and a deeply human account of friendship and sacrifice, The Mosquito Bowl offers a powerful look at the young men whose lives were forever changed by World War II. Watch the film starting November 25, exclusively on Netflix.
