Barry Sloane wants to take Captain John Price from the battlefield to the big screen. The actor, who has portrayed the defining Modern Warfare figure for nearly a decade, has said he would enthusiastically return if the planned Call of Duty film needs its Price.
Speaking with Dan Allen Gaming, Sloane addressed the prospect of reprising the part in live action and made a confident case for why he believes he belongs in the role. His argument is not simply that he knows the character's voice or familiar look. It is rooted in the time he has spent helping define this version of Price, his awareness of the scale of the franchise, and his connection to the community that has followed Modern Warfare through its recent era.
"I don't think there's anyone else on the planet who is as qualified for the job as I am," Sloane said.
The actor added that he would "love" to play Price in a movie, while also acknowledging that casting decisions can go in unexpected directions once a major Hollywood production enters the process. That realism is important: no casting announcement has confirmed Sloane's involvement, and enthusiasm from a performer does not guarantee a deal. Still, his comments put a fan-favorite possibility squarely into the conversation as the film moves toward its reported 2028 release window.
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A natural candidate for Captain Price
Captain Price is not just another recognizable soldier in Call of Duty. Across Modern Warfare stories, he has served as a steady command presence amid covert operations, international crises, betrayals, and the escalating personal cost of war. The character's visual identity is instantly legible to players: the beard, boonie hat, and hard-worn composure. More importantly, though, Price is defined by authority, dry resolve, and the sense that he is always carrying more responsibility than he can comfortably admit.
Sloane has already done the work of embodying those qualities for the newer Modern Warfare games. That history gives him a practical advantage beyond surface-level familiarity. A live-action adaptation would need to introduce Price efficiently for viewers who may never have played a campaign while still satisfying longtime players who know exactly how important he is. Casting an actor who has spent years exploring the role could provide immediate continuity in mannerisms, emotional tone, and leadership style.
In his interview, Sloane said he has lived with the character for almost a decade and understands both the size of the projects and the affection players have for them. He also pointed to the vocal support he has received from fans pushing for his return. That support reflects a growing expectation around game adaptations: when games use performance capture, detailed facial work, and recognizable actors, audiences increasingly see those performers as more than anonymous voice talent.
For many fans, the performer has become part of the character's identity. Recasting can therefore feel different than it did in earlier eras, when a game character was generally disconnected from the person delivering a voice in a recording booth. Modern productions often place actors at the center of performances through motion capture, facial capture, and increasingly cinematic presentation. That change has made questions of continuity much more prominent whenever a game is adapted for film or television.
The Call of Duty film's unanswered questions
The upcoming Call of Duty film is set to be directed by Peter Berg and written by Taylor Sheridan. It is expected to use the Modern Warfare universe, though the exact nature of that connection remains unclear. The project could tell a new story within that setting, adapt material from one of the games more closely, or borrow characters and ideas while building a separate continuity for cinema.
That distinction will shape nearly every major creative decision, including whether Captain Price appears at all. A new Modern Warfare-set story could easily be built around an original squad or a fresh mission, with Price appearing in a supporting command role--or not appearing. A more direct adaptation would make his absence harder to imagine, given how central he is to the identity of the Modern Warfare brand.
There is also the question of what kind of movie this will be. Call of Duty has covered a vast range of military action, from intimate special-operations missions to globe-spanning conflicts. Modern Warfare, specifically, gives a film team a recognizable contemporary military-thriller framework. But a two-hour feature has very different needs from a game campaign. It must establish its stakes, introduce its team, create emotional investment, and deliver its action without relying on hours of playable missions to build momentum.
Sloane suggested he could be an asset to that process. His familiarity with Price and the fan base could help bridge the space between game continuity and a film production's needs. Whether that leads to a starring role, a supporting appearance, or no involvement at all will depend on how the filmmakers define their version of the universe.
Why game performers matter to adaptations
The debate around casting game actors in adaptations is often framed as a choice between authenticity and star power. Studios may look for performers with a long history of leading large theatrical releases, especially when launching an expensive blockbuster intended to reach viewers outside the existing player base. At the same time, casting the established actor can offer a different kind of value: immediate credibility with the audience most invested in the property.
Neither approach is automatically correct. The best choice depends on the role, the material, and the intended interpretation. In Price's case, however, Sloane's longstanding association with the character makes him an especially visible candidate. He would not be arriving as an outsider attempting to reproduce a beloved performance. He would be adapting his own established work to a new medium.
That does not mean the transition would be effortless. Acting in a game and leading a live-action film involve different rhythms, production methods, and visual demands. But Sloane's experience with the character could reduce one of the larger risks facing any adaptation: misunderstanding what makes an iconic figure connect with audiences in the first place. Price cannot just be a stern officer with a memorable silhouette. He needs to feel like a seasoned leader whose confidence has been shaped by losses, difficult choices, and loyalty to his team.
Modern Warfare 4 complicates the timeline
Spoiler warning: the following section discusses the ending of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
If the movie is intended to fit directly into game canon, its place in the timeline could determine Price's role. Modern Warfare 4 ends with Captain Price left bleeding in the wilderness after a brutal sequence of events. Ghost says goodbye to his fallen leader, giving the story a tragic conclusion that leaves Price's future uncertain.
That outcome means a canon-bound film starring Price would seemingly need to be set before the events of Modern Warfare 4. Alternatively, a story set later could shift attention to characters who survive, including Ghost and the Korean characters introduced in the game. An entirely separate film continuity would give the creators much more freedom, allowing them to use Price without being constrained by the latest campaign's ending.
For now, there is no confirmation that the movie will be canonical, nor is there confirmation of its plot, time period, or cast. Those unknowns are significant. They also leave room for Sloane's desired return to remain plausible, particularly if the production decides that a Modern Warfare film benefits from presenting one of its most recognizable characters with the actor players already associate with him.
Waiting for the cards to fall
Sloane tempered his confidence with an understanding of how unpredictable film casting can be. He noted that studios commonly have their own lists of potential names and their own process for pursuing them. That is a pragmatic view of an industry in which familiarity with a role can be influential without being decisive.
Even so, his position is clear. He wants the opportunity, believes his experience makes him highly qualified, and appreciates the fans who have argued for him to make the jump to live action. With the film due in 2028, more concrete information may emerge as production gets closer and casting begins to take shape.
Until then, Captain Price remains one of the most important open questions surrounding the Call of Duty movie. If the project wants to lean into the Modern Warfare legacy players know, Barry Sloane has made sure there is no ambiguity about his availability--or his enthusiasm for the mission.
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