2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was a huge hit and well-received, and while a sequel seemed likely, fans eager to see the story's continuation had to wait through two other Call of Duty games before it was ready. Now it is finally happening, and two teasers have already dropped hinting at some of the characters appearing in the campaign. Obviously, Price and Gaz are back, along with the reboot's take on Soap and Ghost. Plus a new character named Vargas, and a line of dialogue that suggests a rebooted version of Roach.
This is pretty exciting already, but it does still beg some questions about the story. There were several characters in the 2019 reboot that quickly won over players but have not yet been confirmed for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The specific teasers seem to be showcasing Task Force 141, and it is likely that there are others who have not yet been confirmed.
Spoilers for 2019's Modern Warfare will be included.
5 Alex
Modern Warfare had some interesting characters, but many players were captivated by the story of one of the central figures simply known as "Alex." He was a CIA field agent trying to stop General Barkov from using chemical weapons – something that led to him working with the Urzikstan Liberation force and coming to respect their dedication. He quickly bonded with their leader Farah Karim and started supporting their cause, which eventually caused problems when the U.S. government suddenly declared ULF a terrorist organization. Alex openly defied orders and decided to keep fighting with them anyway. It is an interesting arc that adds to the moral ambiguity of Modern Warfare's story.
Alex would seem like a strange character for the sequel to bring back given the events of Modern Warfare. During the final level, he sacrifices himself to destroy Barkov's chemical weapon factory. He literally allows a furnace to blow up in his face. If he were to return for Modern Warfare 2 surely it could only be for flashbacks. It would have to be, wouldn't it? Since he's very obviously dead... or so many assumed. While that was certainly the impression one would get from the campaign, this assumption was challenged when he was later added as a playable operator in multiplayer and spec ops.
Turns out by some improbable chance Alex survived, although not completely unscathed. He lost a leg in the blast. This would seem to imply a chance of him returning for Modern Warfare 2, though it would pose the question of how he wasn't killed in the chemical plant's destruction. There is also an obvious plot thread to explore with him-the fallout of his decision to abandon the CIA in favor of ULF.
4 Farah Karim
The original Modern Warfare trilogy was, unfortunately, a product of an era where video games were still seen as being mostly for men and boys, leading them to have very little in the way of gender representation. So it was a really nice touch when the 2019 version added multiple strong women to its cast, and the most memorable was probably Farah Karim. She was a battle-hardened woman in a position of command who could hold her own alongside Captain Price, enough that they were already well-acquainted when the game starts. Her story also showcased sides of war not usually seen in Call of Duty, particularly the impact it has on civilians. There is an actual level where the player controls Farah as a child as she tries to survive in the middle of an armed occupation.
Farah certainly resonated with fans, but she has so far not been mentioned in the teasers for Modern Warfare 2. In the previous game, she was last seen in a helicopter with Nikolai, deciding to go home after finally getting her revenge on the main antagonist. The big question is what happens next. The post-credits scene seemed to indicate that the fight would not be over for her, with Barkov's death giving an opportunity for Khalid Al-Asad to take over, plus the encroaching Russian ultranationalist forces; not to mention her own brother becoming a terrorist. Plus it would be great to see her become a member of Task Force 141.
3 Khaled Al-Asad
At the end of the first game, the player seems to be victorious when they finally kill General Barkov and end his rampage of destruction through Urzikstan. But then after the credits, players are treated to a blast from the past as a familiar face appears. Longtime players will recognize him as Khaled Al-Asad, a major antagonist in the first act of the original Modern Warfare. Like his predecessor, Al-Asad is leading a violent takeover of the country, albeit this time by exploiting a power vacuum rather than ousting the president.
But this one appears even more threatening. Some have noted that he is actually on the battlefield executing wounded soldiers as they beg for mercy. This is a far cry from the original, who was built up more like a coward who let others do the dirty work for him. Call of Duty is obviously setting Al-Asad up to be an antagonist in Modern Warfare 2, but the big question is what role he will have. The fact that he seems to be a lot more dangerous in this version suggests he may have a bigger role than in the original Modern Warfare.
2 Nikolai
The reboot has been very excited to re-introduce old characters, so it should hardly be surprising that they decided to bring back Price's old buddy Nikolai. In the original trilogy, he started off as an informant for the SAS, aiding Task Force 141 as a pilot. In the reboot, he comes back with his resume now including "arms dealer." Though only appearing very late in the campaign, it was still nice to see his return. Modern Warfare 2 could provide Nikolai with opportunities for a bigger role, especially with Captain Price at the center of things. But there is also another unanswered question worth exploring.
Just before the final mission, Farah asks Nikolai why he is helping them. He responds with the statement "Barkov is a stain on my country, it will not stand." This seems to hint at some backstory that has not yet been revealed. Barkov has certainly committed some heinous war crimes, but just what did he do that made Nikolai so keen to see him dead? What exactly made him a "stain" on Russia as he puts it? Is there some personal history between them?
1 Zakhaev
Although only mentioned briefly at the end of the first game, Call of Duty did seem to be setting up a rebooted version of the original Modern Warfare's antagonists, a Russian ultranationalist military under the command of one Imran Zakhaev. The changes some things around. In this timeline, Imran Zakaev is dead and it is instead his son Viktor who is taking over. This is a big change from the original, where Viktor had a smaller role while Imran was the brains behind the operation. But it still suggests that the Zakhaevs will have some role to play in the coming events, probably as major antagonists.
Curiously enough, this impression does seem to be reinforced by a small detail in Black Ops Cold War. During the mission "Desperate Measures," the player takes control of Dmitri Belikov, a Russian officer stationed at the Lubyanka Building. At the beginning of the level, he is called into an important meeting with several officers and Mikhail Gorbachev, but longtime Call of Duty fans will notice someone very familiar on the other side of the table- Imran Zakhaev. He reappears several times throughout this section, often getting in the way of the player. It does make for an interesting cameo, but also suggests plans for the Zakhaevs to have a bigger part.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 releases on October 28, 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.