One of the biggest franchises in gaming is finally becoming a movie, maybe.
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A Call of Duty movie is now in the works at Paramount with big names attached to write and direct. It’s been a long time coming, as Activision first announced plans for a Call of Duty movie–and an entire universe of Call of Duty films–more than a decade ago. But now the project is progressing.
In this post, we’re rounding up everything we know about the Call of Duty movie. We’ll update this post in the future as more details are divulged.
What is the Call of Duty movie about?
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This is one of the biggest questions people have about the Call of Duty movie, and we don’t yet have an answer. In the original announcement, Paramount and Activision said they were “committed to honoring the brand’s rich narrative and distinctive style,” going on to promise an “authentic and exciting experience” that can appeal to longtime fans and newcomers. These are marketing buzzwords and don’t tell us much of anything about what the Call of Duty movie will actually be.
Earlier this year, Activision sent out a survey asking fans to rank what they want the Call of Duty film to be inspired by. The choices include Black Ops, Modern Warfare, Zombies, or something other than Black Ops or Modern Warfare. Alternatively, Activision wants to know if people would instead want a totally new Call of Duty story to serve as the inspiration for the movie. Just because Activision is soliciting fan feedback, that doesn’t mean the feedback will be incorporated into any decision-making at Paramount.
The Call of Duty franchise has been around for 20 years, and the series tells all kinds of different stories throughout its different sub-brands, including Modern Warfare and Black Ops. The Modern Warfare series, for example, is known for being a more traditional military-warfare experience, while the Black Ops franchise is known for its trippy and over-the-top elements and story beats that focus on conspiracies. This is a challenge, but also an opportunity, Head of Xbox Game Studios Booty said.
“There’s two decades of Call of Duty–where do you start? Which character do you pick from which branch of the franchise? And so the team has got a vision where they want to go, and I think Taylor Sheridan will be a good match for what they’ve got in mind,” Booty said.
Paramount boss David Ellison, 42, said he is a lifelong fan of the Call of Duty series and has spent “countless hours” playing Call of Duty games over the years.
“Being entrusted by Activision and players worldwide to bring this extraordinary storytelling universe to the big screen is both an honor and a responsibility that we don’t take lightly,” he said. “We’re approaching this film with the same disciplined, uncompromising commitment to excellence that guided our work on Top Gun: Maverick, ensuring it meets the exceptionally high standards this franchise and its fans deserve.”
Who is directing and writing the Call of Duty movie?
The Call of Duty movie will be directed by Peter Berg, who has experience in the wartime genre, having directed Mark Wahlberg in 2013’s Lone Survivor. That movie told the story of Marcus Luttrell and a harrowing experience he endured in Afghanistan. He also directed the action movies The Kingdom and Battleship, both of which involved Call of Duty’s bread and butter: people shooting guns and over-the-top setpieces.
In addition to Berg as director, the Call of Duty movie is being written by Taylor Sheridan. The Oscar-nominated writer-director behind the movies Hell or High Water, Sicario, and Wind River is bringing his talents to Call of Duty. He’s also behind the hugely popular Yellowstone TV series.
Who is starring in the Call of Duty movie?
There have been no casting announcements for the Call of Duty movie as of yet.
When will the Call of Duty movie be released?
It’s still early days for the Call of Duty movie, and Paramount has not yet set a release date for the film. Paramount is in the midst of attempting a hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.
A long road to release
Activision originally announced it would make Call of Duty movies through its Activision Blizzard Studios label that was formed in 2015, led by Hollywood producers Stacey Sher and Nick van Dyk, and charged with adapting Activision Blizzard’s franchises for film and TV. A Call of Duty movie universe was planned at one point, but, as often happens in Hollywood, nothing ever happened.
Back in 2017, Activision announced films based on Call of Duty sub-brands were in the works, with multiple scripts commissioned. “We have plotted out many years,” Sher said at the time.
So why is the Call of Duty movie finally happening now? Booty said “a relationship came about” between people at Paramount and senior executives working on Call of Duty. “They felt like they found a partner who understands the game, people who play the game, and shared a vision of what it could be to bring that forward,” Booty said.
Activision President Rob Kostich, meanwhile, said, “Call of Duty has captured our imagination with incredible action and intense stories that have brought millions of people together from around the world, and that focus on making incredible Call of Duty games remains unwavering.”
He said Paramount is a “fantastic partner” for the Call of Duty movie.
“The film will honor and expand upon what has made this franchise great in the first place, and we cannot wait to get started. Our shared goal is quite simple–to create an unforgettable blockbuster movie experience that our community loves, and one that also excites and inspires new fans of the franchise,” he said.
Anything can happen in Hollywood
Just because Paramount and Activision have announced a deal to make a Call of Duty movie, that doesn’t mean it will actually happen. After all, there are 50+ video game movies in the works now, and no one expects all of them to be released.
Some Hollywood insiders believe video games are the next comic books when it comes to film adaptations, so it makes sense that Hollywood studios would rush to land the rights to video games, especially after the gigantic successes of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and A Minecraft Movie.
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