Peter Berg, the director of Friday Night Lights and Lone Survivor, has made the movie he was always going to make: football and war, together. The Mosquito Bowl follows a group of college stars who joined the Marines after Pearl Harbor, played one legendary game on Guadalcanal on Christmas Eve 1944, then went into the Battle of Okinawa.
The cast mixes rising stars, a horror icon, Jack Nicholson’s son and one of the loudest voices in sports media. Here’s who plays who, and where you’ve seen them. For the history behind the film, read The Mosquito Bowl true story.
| Movie | The Mosquito Bowl |
| Netflix release | November 25, 2026 |
| Theatrical release | October 30, 2026 (limited) |
| Director | Peter Berg |
| Writers | Peter Berg, Mark L. Smith |
| Based on | The Mosquito Bowl by Buzz Bissinger (2022) |
| Runtime | 127 minutes |
| Music | Explosions in the Sky |
The Mosquito Bowl cast: who plays who
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Nicholas Galitzine | John McLaughry |
| Bill Skarsgård | Bob Bauman |
| Ray Nicholson | Tony Butkovich |
| Tom Francis | Dave Schreiner |
| Brent Comer | George Murphy |
| Peter Berg | Gen. Simon Buckner |
| Pat McAfee | Drill instructor |
| Dominic Bogart | Wilkes |
| Ella Newton | Jane |
| Stacy Clausen | Supporting role |
Nicholas Galitzine as John McLaughry
Galitzine leads as McLaughry, a football player from Brown University who becomes a Marine officer. You know Galitzine as Prince Henry in Red, White & Royal Blue, Hayes Campbell in The Idea of You and George Villiers in Mary & George. This is a much grittier turn. On filming the battle scenes, he said: “Your human side creeps in while you’re looking at this hellscape.”
Bill Skarsgård as Bob Bauman
Skarsgård is best known for terrifying people: Pennywise in It, Count Orlok in Nosferatu and the villain in John Wick: Chapter 4. Here he plays a big lineman turned Marine, one of the most human roles of his career.
Ray Nicholson as Tony Butkovich
Yes, he’s Jack Nicholson’s son, and yes, the resemblance is a lot. Ray Nicholson has been building a career with roles in Promising Young Woman and Smile 2. He plays Butkovich, a star fullback.
Tom Francis as Dave Schreiner
Francis won a Tony Award in 2025 for playing Joe Gillis in Jamie Lloyd’s Broadway revival of Sunset Boulevard. He plays Schreiner, a standout end and one of the most decorated college players of his era.
Peter Berg and Pat McAfee in the cast
Berg doesn’t just direct. He also plays Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., the commander of US ground forces at Okinawa and the highest-ranking American officer killed by enemy fire in the war. And former NFL punter turned ESPN star Pat McAfee plays a Marine drill instructor, which feels like the most natural casting of the year.
Are the characters real people?
Yes. The film is based on Buzz Bissinger’s nonfiction book, and the main characters are real men who played major college football before joining the Marines. Many of the players who took the field in the real Mosquito Bowl did not survive Okinawa. To avoid spoilers, we’ve kept their fates out of this cast guide, but our true story explainer covers the real history in detail.
Where was The Mosquito Bowl filmed?
Principal photography began in Queensland, Australia, in August 2025, standing in for the Pacific. The production also spent a day in November 2025 shooting at Brown University’s stadium in Providence, Rhode Island, McLaughry’s real college. Filming wrapped by December 2025.
FAQ
When is The Mosquito Bowl on Netflix?
November 25, 2026.
Who plays John McLaughry in The Mosquito Bowl?
Nicholas Galitzine.
Who does Bill Skarsgård play in The Mosquito Bowl?
Bob Bauman, a college football star turned Marine.
Is Ray Nicholson Jack Nicholson’s son?
Yes. He plays Tony Butkovich.
Is Pat McAfee in The Mosquito Bowl?
Yes. He plays a Marine drill instructor.
Is The Mosquito Bowl a true story?
Yes. It’s based on Buzz Bissinger’s book about a real football game Marines played on Guadalcanal on Christmas Eve 1944.
Watch the official trailer on YouTube.
