Netflix’s New Star-Studded War Epic Officially Lands Early Release

There’s nothing quite like a good wartime drama to get the blood pumping. The genre is filled with historically-inspired entries that balance tear-jerking drama with gun-toting action, and Netflix is set to add yet another exciting option to the list. Brought to us by Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg, the upcoming film will pair military thrills with sports drama to deliver an award contender based on a true story.

In excellent news for fans of both historical war retellings and inspirational sports cinema, Netflix’s adaptation cinched an early release date. The streamer will bring The Mosquito Bowl, an on-screen adaptation of the New York Times bestseller from Buzz Bissinger, to audiences on Oct. 22. The film will enjoy a gala premiere at the 40th AFI FEST, according to the Hollywood Reporter, debuting at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Mosquito Bowl follows four college football stars who, following the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the Marines. The athletes eventually joined the invasion of Okinawa, but first they participated in a football match that would become a piece of history. The release stars some of Hollywood’s most-watched rising stars, with Nicholas Galitzine joining Bill Skarsgård, Ray Nicholson, and Tom Francis in the leading roles.

That star-studded lineup is motivation enough for many viewers to add The Mosquito Bowl to their watchlist, but even more eye-popping talent will join the leading men in bringing the true story to life. The talented team behind the release includes several Oscar-nominated creatives, like sound designer Wylie Stateman and VFX supervisor Ariel Velasco Shaw, alongside BAFTA-winner Angela Conte, who is in charge of hair and makeup design. BAFTA-nominated production designer Phil Ivey is also in the lineup, as are accomplished composers Explosions in the Sky, casting director Rachel Tenner, cinematographer Jacques Jouffret, and editors Jon Otazua and Garret Donnelly. An awards push accompanying the film’s release will highlight this talented roster.

Berg and The Mosquito Bowl author Buzz Bissinger, who are cousins, have proven experience in sports dramas. They are behind the broad success of both the 2004 film and the television version of the award-winning Friday Night Lights.

Following its Oct. 22 debut at AFI FEST, The Mosquito Bowl will release to theaters on Oct. 30. It will then shift over to Netflix starting on Nov. 25, where subscribers can enjoy the exciting film from the comfort of their couches.