While on a hiatus from the WWE commentary desk, Pat McAfee has secured his first role as an actor. As announced by Netflix, McAfee will have a minor role in the upcoming Peter Berg-directed film, “The Mosquito Bowl,” where he is set to portray a US Marine drill instructor.
The movie, which is currently in production in Queensland, Australia, is based on the true story of top American college football players who enlisted in the Marines following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film’s cast also includes Nicholas Galitzine, Ray Nicholson, Tom Francis, and Bill Skarsgård.
McAfee’s venture into acting comes during a planned break from his WWE duties, which he began after the Money in the Bank premium live event on June 7, 2025. At the time, McAfee announced he was stepping away to deal with mental exhaustion, citing the demands of his daily podcast, constant travel, and family commitments. In his absence, Corey Graves has been filling his seat alongside Michael Cole on the Raw commentary team.
Despite his new project, McAfee’s return to WWE programming is already scheduled. It was confirmed earlier this month by Paul “Triple H” Levesque that the commentator will appear at the inaugural Wrestlepalooza on September 20. The event will take place in Indianapolis, the city where McAfee played his entire eight-season NFL career with the Colts.
While his appearance is confirmed, his specific role for the night has not yet been announced.