Pat McAfee,former NFL punter and popular sports personality,is set to make his acting debut in a Netflix film,The Mosquito Bowl. The movie, scheduled for release later in 2024, recounts the improbable true story of a team of American prisoners of war who played a football game against their Japanese captors in a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines during World War II. McAfee will portray the role of colonel Henry Mucci, the American officer who organized and led the daring rescue raid that freed the POWs.
The film, directed by Justin Kurzel, stars alongside Freddie Highmore as Lt.Greg “Pappy” Page, the American officer who coached the POW football team. The Mosquito Bowl is based on the book of the same name by Caryle Murphy, detailing the remarkable resilience and determination of the prisoners. McAfee’s casting marks a significant transition for the athlete-turned-broadcaster, expanding his reach into the entertainment industry. Production began in early 2024 in Australia, with Netflix anticipating a late 2024 release to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. The film aims to honor the sacrifices of the POWs and highlight a little-known chapter of American wartime history.
