Following the announcement on the 17th that Peter Berg would be directing the Call of Duty film, his past remarks have sparked controversy among fans looking forward to the movie.

The controversial comments were made during an interview with Esquire magazine in December 2013. When asked what he thought of people who play war games, Berg replied, "It's like a basement warrior. It's pathetic."

He expressed a negative view of Call of Duty players, stating, "It's pathetic, really pathetic. It's like a basement warrior. I can't stand it. The only people who should think they can play Call of Duty are soldiers. They serve their country and play for a moment of rest, right? That's fine. But the rest of them? I can't accept it."

Thirteen years later, Berg has been tapped to direct the live-action Call of Duty film, and those past remarks have come back to haunt him. Fans who have revisited the interview are reacting with comments like, "Did a massive paycheck change his convictions?" and "Knowing the movie is made by a director who looks down on the fans makes me feel bad, regardless of the film's quality."

Amid the controversy, the live-action Call of Duty film is currently slated for release on June 30, 2028, under the direction of Peter Berg, with a screenplay by Taylor Sheridan and production by David Glasser and others.