Paramount and Activision are teaming up to bring Call of Duty to the big screen with a live-action movie — and this time, it might actually happen.
The companies said in a shared announcement on Tuesday that Paramount will develop, produce, and distribute a live-action feature film based on Activision's Call of Duty that's "designed to thrill its massive global fan base by delivering on the hallmarks of what fans love about the iconic series, while boldly expanding the franchise to entirely new audiences."
David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, heaped praise on the Call of Duty franchise, while also boasting of his gaming bona fides, saying in a statement, "As a lifelong fan of Call of Duty, this is truly a dream come true. From the first Allied campaigns in the original Call of Duty, through Modern Warfare and Black Ops, I’ve spent countless hours playing this franchise that I absolutely love."
Ellison said Paramount is approaching its adaptation of the Call of Duty brand "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. I can promise that we are resolute in our mission to deliver a cinematic experience that honors the legacy of this one-in-a-million brand – thrilling longtime fans of Call of Duty while captivating a whole new generation."
Important details about who will write, direct, and star in Call of Duty's live-action movie weren't announced in Paramount and Activision's news release, but both parties insist on one thing: Their movie will be big and faithful to what makes Call of Duty Call of Duty.
"The film will honor and expand upon what has made this franchise great in the first place, and we cannot wait to get started," said Rob Kostich, president of Activision. "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."
Activision has flirted with bringing COD to the big screen for at least the past decade. In 2015, the publisher formed Activision Blizzard Studios with the intent of adapting Activision Blizzard's stable of properties into film and TV projects. One of the first projects announced was developing a "robust cinematic universe" based on the Call of Duty franchise. At one point, Sicario: Day of the Soledad director Stefano Sollima was lined up to direct, but that version of the project fizzled.
Call of Duty is just one of many gaming properties being snatched up by Hollywood in the wake of blockbuster successes like A Minecraft Movie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. A24 is currently working on adaptations of Death Stranding and Elden Ring. Netflix continues work on its BioShock adaptation. Legendary is tackling Street Fighter and Constantin Film is giving Resident Evil another go, this time with Weapons director Zach Cregger at the helm.
The next entry in the Call of Duty game franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, arrives in October. Paramount's Call of Duty film does not yet have a release date.