Friday Night Lightsexecutive producers Peter Berg and Brian Grazer are reuniting for Netflix’s new World War II movie,The Mosquito Bowl, based on theNew York Timesbestseller. Berg wrote and directed the2004 filmFriday Night Lights, based on the book by H.G. Bissinger, and, alongside Grazer, produced the NBC series that aired for five seasons from 2006 to 2011 and won three Emmys. Berg has also directed the Netflix miniseriesAmerican Primeval, which chronicles the Utah War of 1857.
Now,Peter Berg is reuniting withNetflixfor a feature film adaptation ofThe Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War IIby H.G. Bissinger, the same author behindFriday Night Lights. Berg will direct the film and co-write the screenplay with Mark L. Smith, the writer ofAmerican Primeval. The project is a result of Berg’s production company, Film 44, renewing its creative partnership with Netflix to produce and direct films and series. Brian Grazer will also produce for Imagine Entertainment. Berg shared the following statement:
Bela [Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer] and the entire team at Netflix have been tremendous partners to me, both in film and television. I cherish this partnership and feel fully supported as I continue on this beautiful creative odyssey. LFG!
What The Mosquito Bowl Means For Peter Berg
His Creative Partnership With Netflix Continues
Peter Berg’s first collaboration with Netflix was directing the 2023 miniseriesPainkiller, which explores the origins of the opioid crisis, highlighting Purdue Pharma, the company owned by Richard Sackler and his family, which produced OxyContin. The limited series stayed on Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV shows for four weeks and amassed 29.1 million views.American Primeval, produced and directed by Berg, was also a top-ranked limited series for Netflix, staying on the same list for five weeks and garnering 35.1 million views.
15 Most Accurate WW2 Movies, Ranked
Many World War II movies feature glaring historical inaccuracies, but a number of others stand out for their meticulous attention to detail.
Now,The Mosquito Bowlwill continue Berg’s creative partnership with Netflix.The film will follow four of America’s top college football players, including John McLaughry and Tony Butkovich, who put their rising stardom on hold to join the Marines after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As they trained for the grueling invasion of Okinawa, they took part in a historic game at Guadalcanal featuring some of the sport’s greatest athletes. The game, for many, would be the final one they ever played.
Our Take On Peter Berg Directing The Mosquito Bowl
It Combines Two Of His Specialties
Peter Berg’s next project,The Mosquito Bowl, will combine two of his specialties – football and combat. Berg previously explored the heart and strategy of the game inFriday Night Lightsand the brutal realities of war inAmerican Primeval. In turn, Berg is uniquely suited to bring the gripping true story ofThe Mosquito Bowlto life with intense action, raw emotion, and a deeply personal portrayal of sacrifice.
