Backlash Erupts After Call of Duty Movie Director Calls Gamers Pathetic
Paramount’s Call of Duty movie has tapped Peter Berg — and the gamers he once dismissed as pathetic are taking aim. With Taylor Sheridan co-writing, the adaptation is already drawing heavy fire from fans who question the choice.
Well, this is awkward. Call of Duty—that massive, culture-defining, multi-billion dollar game franchise that’s basically a modern rite of passage for anyone with a console—is officially getting the big Hollywood treatment. Paramount has locked in Peter Berg as director for their live-action Call of Duty movie, and he’s not just directing: he’s co-writing the whole thing with Taylor Sheridan (the Yellowstone guy, if you’re keeping score). Sounds like it should be a slam dunk for gamers, right? The catch: Berg’s old opinion of gamers was, let’s just say, not exactly complimentary.
Director vs. Gamers: Not Exactly a Love Story
Here’s where things get spicy. Back in 2013, Berg gave an interview to Esquire and really let loose on people who play war games (Call of Duty included). Asked what he thought about video games simulating combat, he doubled down with:
'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 want to entertain themselves? Okay, maybe. Kids? Uh-uh.'
He didn’t stop there. When pressed about whether Navy SEALs can play CoD at his Montana place, Berg laughed it off, saying he still told them he thought it was ‘pathetic’, and that anyone who sits around playing video games for four hours was 'weak', adding: 'Get out. Do something.'
Internet Memory Never Forgets
Now, none of this was a huge deal when he said it—Berg is pretty well known for being a military booster, especially after directing Lone Survivor. But flash forward to October 2025—Paramount announces that Berg will direct (and co-write) the actual Call of Duty movie, aiming for a big screen release on June 30, 2028.
The gamer crowd? Not amused. As soon as those old comments started circulating around social media again, reactions heated up fast:
- 'Will not be seeing the Call of Duty movie due to Peter Berg’s comments against gamers. A disgusting individual,' posted Scoob on X.
- 'Bro was hating on Call of Duty in its prime. Why is he making the movie now?' wondered Xen HunterTV.
- 'It's even more pathetic to say this and then make a movie from a game. What a loser,' fired back Firebreather451.
Where’s Berg Now?
So far, Berg himself hasn’t publicly addressed this particular grenade rolling his way—not a word on whether time (or money) has softened his views on people who like thumbsticks. But let’s be honest: with the internet doing what it does, there’s zero chance this controversy isn’t coming up during the movie’s press cycle.
In the meantime, the plan is still on: Paramount is teaming up with Activision, Sheridan is on script duty, Berg is directing, and Call of Duty is headed to theaters in summer 2028. If nothing else, we’re getting one strange little meta-moment in movie history—a guy who once openly mocked gamers now banking his biggest film to date on their ticket sales. Hollywood, everybody!