"All storylines lead to this finale": the stars of "Modern Warfare 4" in an interview
The "Modern Warfare" saga is drawing to a close with its fourth installment. I spoke with the game's stars and its narrative director in London about the ambitious story of the finale.
"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4" will be released on October 23rd. In this year's installment, Infinity Ward is placing a major focus on the campaign. The story surrounding Captain Price is set to reach a brilliant conclusion after four chapters. At the same time, the studio is venturing into new territory with the setting. The game takes place largely in South Korea. In the role of inexperienced recruits, I experience firsthand how North Korea overruns the South.
Before the launch, I spoke with the game's cast and Narrative Lead Jeffrey Negus in London. Is the fourth installment the end of the "Modern Warfare" games? How does the studio bring all the open questions to a satisfying conclusion in Korea? Can Infinity Ward win back the favor of fans after the disappointing "Modern Warfare 3" campaign?
And, most importantly: Why do "Call of Duty" fans call a game character "Mommy"?
Barry Sloane: "All plot threads lead to this finale"
The first stop on my interview tour: Barry Sloane. Captain Price himself. In the first three "Modern Warfare" reboot installments, Barry played the tough leader of Task Force 141. In the fourth installment, the iconic mustache is on his own. As a reminder: Price killed General Shepherd at the end of "Modern Warfare 3" and is now on the run. Friends become enemies, former enemies become allies, and Price's story is told to its end.
I talked to Barry about the past seven years as Captain Price and the brilliant conclusion of his journey in "Modern Warfare 4" – with surprisingly philosophical answers.
Barry, you have been playing one of the most iconic video game characters of all time for seven years now. How do you look back on this time?
Barry Sloane: It has been an honor to be part of a global phenomenon. Captain Price was my first role in a game – and so far, my only one. I really appreciate how intimate and creative the production felt for each installment. Only when the marketing begins am I reminded of how huge this thing actually is. It still feels crazy to see Captain John Price in Times Square or on the Las Vegas Sphere.
How has John Price changed over the past seven years and four games?
He has approached the moral line that he drew for himself in the first game. Either he draws a new line now, moves forward, or he stands still. But we all know: Price isn't the type to stand still. He moves forward in "Modern Warfare 4" – and with that, we are entering new territory. It was incredible to take him to such dark places in this game and see how the character continues to evolve.
Has anything changed in the production process since you first stepped into the role of Price?
Everything has become faster and more efficient. For example, we no longer need to have dots on our faces to track our facial expressions. That saves time. And everything is more comfortable. Our new helmets for motion capture recordings are much more pleasant to wear. That helps enormously. Furthermore, I can act much more subtly with the new technology. Even the smallest movements of my eyes are transferred one-to-one into the game. It's crazy.
The "Call of Duty" fanbase usually discusses new games controversially – most recently, for example, the campaign for "Modern Warfare 3" was heavily criticized. Do you notice all these discussions, and does it have an influence on your work?
I notice a lot. I was especially nervous before the first "Modern Warfare" game featuring me was released. No one knew how the reboot would be received. Fortunately, everything went well. Since then, I have personally only felt positivity from the community. Captain Price is a very popular character. That's why it was enormously important for us for "Modern Warfare 4" to portray his character development in a relatable way. Yes, he changes significantly in the fourth installment. But it should all feel organic. In a way that long-time fans can understand.
You are a fan of the old "Modern Warfare" trilogy yourself and mentioned years ago that the sniper mission in Pripyat from "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" remained in your memory. Are there moments in your "Modern Warfare" games that you find particularly impressive?
Oh yes, I can think of many examples. I'd better not talk about the missions in "Modern Warfare 4" yet. But when I think back, the mission "Clean House" from my first "Modern Warfare" game is my absolute favorite moment. Infiltrating a house in complete darkness with night vision goggles. Amazing. The graphics, the slow pace of the game – it feels extremely realistic. That's why I liked Pripyat so much. I had to observe my surroundings closely, move slowly and carefully. I love this systematic approach. That's why I don't stand a chance in online matches – that's where Captain Price is mostly just shot down.
"Modern Warfare 4" is being advertised as the "epic conclusion" of the saga surrounding Price. That sounds very much like an end. How do you feel about that?
Like with all big things – not just in video games, but also in life – everything comes to an end at some point. All the plot threads we have built up lead to this finale. We can't delay it any further. I feel good about this conclusion. How happy we are in life depends on how we deal with change. I simply feel great gratitude that I was allowed to be a part of it – and I look forward to what comes next.
María Elisa Camargo: "Fans call me Mommy, I call them Chiquitos"
Next, I meet Ecuadorian actress María Elisa Camargo. She caused a stir with her appearance in "Modern Warfare 2". With only a little screen time, she captured the hearts of "Call of Duty" fans as cartel boss Valeria Garza, aka "El Sin Nombre".
I talk to María about the overwhelmingly positive feedback and learn how she uses her knowledge from the telenovela world in "Call of Duty".
As an actress, you have gained a lot of experience with telenovelas. How much telenovela is in "Call of Duty"?
María Elisa Camargo: (laughs) My character Valeria definitely brings a pinch of telenovela into the "Call of Duty" world. There is a famous quote from "Modern Warfare 2" that is very telenovela:
¿Puedes sacar la puta cabeza del culo por un segundo? ¡Puta madre, Alejandro!
Excuse me. I don't think I need to translate that, right? But Valeria losing control like that is the exception. She is very calm, deliberate, and manipulative. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to survive as the boss of a cartel.
Are the production processes of a telenovela and a game like "Call of Duty" even comparable?
Telenovelas are hardcore! They taught me so many valuable skills. Imagine: We shoot thirty to forty scenes per day. It's a marathon for my memory and my acting skills. When I act in Hollywood productions, I am perfectly prepared. In the States, people complain that they have to memorize three to four scenes per day. And I just think to myself: Stop whining.
Games bring a completely different challenge. I'm not on a set, but on an empty stage. All the physical stimuli of a TV production are missing. I have to rely on my own childlike imagination. At the same time, I'm wearing a silly suit and a helmet with horns. You have to pretend that all of this is completely normal. For that, you need the personality and the courage to make a fool of yourself sometimes.
What is more exhausting – telenovelas or "Call of Duty"?
Spontaneously, I would say it is more exhausting to shoot 40 scenes a day. But I actually like working on games more. The whole motion capture process is simply fascinating. I get instructions from three different sides. Our director Jeff Negus takes care of the dialogue – and sometimes he changes entire scenes spontaneously. With him, I never know what to expect on set. The military experts show me how to handle weapons. And then there are the technicians who tell me where and how I am allowed to move in the room so that my actions are tracked correctly.
The fans love you and Valeria, even though the cartel boss has only had little screen time so far. Can you explain why the character appeals to so many people?
I think part of her success lies in the fact that she is Latina. Many fans with Latin American roots tell me that my Spanish exclamations remind them of their mothers, who used to throw the Chancla (in English: flip-flop) at them. That touches me deeply. For me, it shows how present and trendy Latino culture has become. I am happy that I can contribute to representing this culture.
Has this strong positive fan reaction influenced how the character develops – and did it have an influence on Valeria's stronger presence in "Modern Warfare 4"?
I think so. The team listens very closely to the community's feedback. Sometimes it feels to me as if they wouldn't think about the next step before they have heard the fans' opinion on the previous step.
I notice that in how they treat us and in the promotion of the game. They give us a lot of freedom to play with the feedback. An example: Many fans call me "Mommy". For reasons. For a video, we thought about what I could call the fans. If they call me "Mommy", I'll call them "Chiquitos" from now on. I am your mommy and you are my sons. All you Chiquitos out there, you know what I mean!
And what can your Chiquitos expect from Valeria in "Modern Warfare 4"?
The real Valeria! So far, the fans haven't really gotten to know her, even though they have already shown her so much love. Up until now, they have mainly experienced her as a drug boss who has everything under control. Now she has to do the dirty work herself. Furthermore, she enters into a highly controversial alliance with John Price. An unexpected relationship develops between the two, characterized by mutual respect, but also by mistrust. Both know how dangerous and clever the other is. This tension will be particularly interesting for the fans.
Speaking of John Price – I asked Barry how it feels to be part of the "epic conclusion" of "Modern Warfare 4". I want to know the same from you. What is going through your mind?
It is definitely a special moment. I can't reveal more about the ending, but the story and the entire universe reach a decisive turning point. We don't even know ourselves what comes after that. Ultimately, the fans decide how it continues – as I said, the team listens to feedback. In any case, I hope that this chapter provides for exciting discussions.
Joseph Lee & Jeffrey Negus: "We are moving in a moral gray area"
Finally, I meet up for a double interview date with Joseph Lee and Jeffrey Negus. For the Korean-American actor Joseph, it is the first time he is acting in a game. He embodies the soldier Kal, who witnesses the invasion of North Korean troops in South Korea. Jeffrey is Narrative Lead at Infinity Ward – he has been with the studio since 2016 and has accompanied the entire "Modern Warfare" reboot saga. For the fourth installment, he is responsible for the story and directed on set.
I talk to both of them about the rise of Korean pop culture and how difficult it is to introduce a new setting and new characters in the final chapter of a story.
Korean culture has gained enormous popularity in recent years – in movies, series, and music. Was that one of the reasons why you decided that "Modern Warfare 4" should take place in Korea?
Jeffrey: Definitely. It is fascinating how Korean pop culture is spreading. We are big fans ourselves. But there is another reason: The multiplayer team wanted to develop a DMZ mode that takes place in the actual demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. From there, we began to develop a story: What if a conflict were to break out on the Korean peninsula? We thought about what exciting possibilities would arise from that, which characters we could bring to life, and how we could represent the culture through new characters.
Furthermore, we wanted to return to our roots and show the perspective of simple soldiers in a large war scenario. This setting offers the perfect foundation for that: We accompany a young, drafted unit of South Korean and American soldiers.
Joseph, as a Korean-American actor, you have a direct connection to Korean culture. How did you incorporate your experiences into the development of your character Kal?
Joseph: Fortunately, the role was very authentic in a certain sense because Kal is also Korean-American. Therefore, I didn't have to prepare or research much. It was just fun to get involved and work together with other Korean-American actors and friends – for example with Young Mazino, with whom I already filmed "Beef".
You are not only an actor but also a painter. I have seen your works on Instagram and am impressed. If you had to capture the story of "Modern Warfare 4" on a canvas, what would be on it?
Joseph: Oh wow. That is an exciting question. The color palette would be rather muted, but in a cool way. I would also like to paint some portraits of the characters. I also find the landscapes that the design team created incredible. I would like to make my own version of those.
Jeffrey: May I add something? We are moving in "Modern Warfare 4" in moral gray areas. I imagine a painting in which several images merge into each other and overlap. Everyone would see something different in it. Nothing affects all people the same way, and presumably, it wouldn't be immediately clear what exactly you are looking at. I think Joe would implement something like that excellently. I am a big fan of his art anyway.
Many fans speculate that "Modern Warfare 4" is the last part of the series. Will the stories of these characters be told to their end, or are you leaving the door open for further "Modern Warfare" games?
Jeffrey: Let's see what the future brings. What I can tell you: It was especially important to us to steer the story in new directions and take players to places they don't know yet. In the process, the characters change in unexpected ways. Some developments cannot be undone and are heading toward an end. We have raised many questions in the past three games, and this game finally provides numerous answers to them. We are curious to see how the players react to it.
Joseph, how does it feel to join an epic story so late as a new cast member?
Joseph: Honestly, I didn't know the games before and fortunately didn't know what to expect. So I went in without much pressure – without the fear of what fans might say. The experience was very educational. And getting to know the dedicated fan base was also exciting. It was great to exchange ideas with them. I feel very honored to be a part of it.
Jeffrey: By the way, this is our biggest cast in the history of "Modern Warfare" so far. It was an incredibly big challenge to weave the new characters into the existing story while simultaneously representing Korean culture and the conflict in Korea in a way that hasn't been seen in video games before.
What should the players feel when the credits roll?
Jeffrey: I hope that the players are satisfied in the end, because the game offers many reasons for that. I also like the comparison with the painting: Some events are interpreted very differently by different people. Through the many characters, we can show the same moments from different perspectives. I am curious to see how the players discuss it and what they think of it.
Joseph: I can only agree with that.
I will test how satisfying "Modern Warfare 4" actually is in detail. If you don't want to miss anything, click on "Follow" and "Follow topic" below. In the meantime, you can find my review of last year's "Call of Duty" installment here:
"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4" will be released on October 23rd for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC. Early access to the campaign starts on October 16th. Activision invited me to the preview event in London and covered the travel expenses. The interviews were shortened and edited for better readability.
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