Peter Berg’s “The Mosquito Bowl” to world-premiere at AFI Fest: Netflix war drama arrives October 22

AFI Fest, in its 40th edition presented by Canva, announced on September 22, 2026 that “The Mosquito Bowl”, Peter Berg’s new Netflix war drama, will have its world premiere in gala on October 22 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The film is based on Pulitzer Prize winner Buzz Bissinger’s New York Times bestseller and tells the true story of four college football stars — John McLaughry (Nicholas Galitzine), Bob Bauman (Bill Skarsgård), Tony Butkovich (Ray Nicholson) and David Schreiner (Tom Francis) — who, after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, enlisted in the Marines and fought in the invasion of Okinawa.

Berg (Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon) directs the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Mark L. Smith; producers are Brian Grazer and Alex Gayner. The director is a cousin of author Bissinger, and the two previously worked together on the “Friday Night Lights” film and television series. In a statement about the film, Berg said he has spent most of his career telling stories about people who put themselves at risk, and that “The Mosquito Bowl” is one of his most personal explorations — young athletes and friends who became soldiers and were burdened with an unimaginable weight. He said he is proud of the film and honored it will premiere at AFI Fest.

After its festival premiere, Netflix will release the film in theaters starting October 30, in partnership with AMC cinemas, while it arrives on the streaming platform on November 25. A strong awards push from the streaming giant is expected.

Source: mxdwn Movies / The Hollywood Reporter — read the source article