The Mosquito Bowl Trailer Brings the Brutal Invasion of Okinawa to Life
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Phil Roberts 
Four of America’s top College Football stars prepare to join the battle of Okinawa in the brutal first trailer for Netflix’s The Mosquito Bowl.
The invasion of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Young Marines were thrown into one of the largest amphibious assaults in the Pacific, greeted by relentless gunfire as thousands of soldiers were cut down in the chaos. But even amid the blood, bullets, and unimaginable horrors of war, extraordinary stories of humanity could still emerge from the battlefield. One of those stories began not on the front lines, but on a makeshift football field.
On Christmas Eve 1944, two regiments of Marines gathered at Guadalcanal for what became known as The Mosquito Bowl. Among the players were four of America’s top college football stars, temporarily putting the horrors of war to one side to take part in a game that would become legendary. The match ended in a draw, but the story was far from over. Decades later, journalist and author Buzz Bissinger chronicled the extraordinary tale in his acclaimed book, The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II.
Now, Netflix is bringing this remarkable true story to the screen—and judging by the first trailer, this is going to be one hell of a ride.
Written and directed by Peter Berg, the new thriller boasts a seriously impressive cast, with Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård, Ray Nicholson, Tom Francis, Brent Comer, and Dominic Bogart leading the charge. But while the football game may have been the beginning of the story, the horrors of war are never far away. Dust off your football boots and check out the trailer below.
SYNOPSIS
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four of America’s top College Football stars set their fame aside to enlist in the Marines. As they prepare for the brutal invasion of Okinawa, they’ll play in a legendary game featuring some of the greatest players in history – a game that, for many, will be the last they ever play.
CAST & CREW
The Mosquito Bowl is directed by Peter Berg, who co-writes the screenplay with Mark L. Smith. The film is based on Buzz Bissinger’s acclaimed book, The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II. Berg produces for Film 44 alongside Brian Grazer for Imagine Entertainment and Alex Gayner, with Ezra Emanuel, Buzz Bissinger, and Jeb Brody serving as executive producers.
The impressive cast features Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård, Ray Nicholson, Tom Francis, Brent Comer, and Dominic Bogart.
RELEASE
Over the past few years, Netflix has delivered some phenomenal movies that have felt more than worthy of awards-season attention. From Frankenstein, Jay Kelly, and Train Dreams to Ballad of a Small Player, the streamer has continued to surprise me with films that have completely defied my expectations. And now, it looks like Netflix is ready to break the mold once again with The Mosquito Bowl.
From that first trailer, the film looks gritty, visceral, and seriously impressive, with every frame suggesting that Netflix has thrown everything it has into bringing this extraordinary story to life. Add a brilliant ensemble cast to the mix, and we could be looking at something truly special when the film arrives on Netflix on November 25.
Thankfully, those of us who still love experiencing these big stories on the biggest screen possible are also getting a treat. Under Netflix’s new push to bring its theatrical releases to cinemas, The Mosquito Bowl will receive a limited theatrical run starting November 13. And you can bet I’ll be there for it. So get ready to storm the beaches in glorious 4K, because this looks like one battle that deserves to be experienced on the big screen.
What do you think of the new trailer? Will you be heading to the cinema for The Mosquito Bowl? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
