Paramount and Activision are officially teaming up to bring Call of Duty to the big screen, and they’re comparing it to Top Gun: Maverick.
The project is moving forward under the new Paramount and Skydance leadership, with CEO David Ellison said to be closely involved. Activision will serve as a creative partner on the film.
Long in the Works
This isn’t the first attempt at a Call of Duty movie. Back in 2018, Activision Blizzard Studios tried to get one going with Sicario 2 director Stefano Sollima attached, but the project stalled.
With Paramount now backing it, the film has a stronger chance of actually happening, according to Deadline.
A Proven Franchise
Call of Duty is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. It has been the No. 1 best-selling game series in the U.S. for 16 consecutive years, with more than 500 million copies sold worldwide and hundreds of millions of players.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the latest game in the franchise, gets released in November.
What Paramount and Activision Said
David Ellison, a longtime fan of the series, compared the studio’s approach to the work done on Top Gun: Maverick, saying the goal is to meet the high expectations of fans and deliver a movie worthy of the franchise.
“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,” said Ellison. “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. 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. 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.”
Rob Kostich, President of Activision, said the focus will be on bringing the action and storytelling that has defined Call of Duty to a new medium. He added that the film will expand upon the elements that made the games a success while aiming to attract new audiences.
“Throughout its history, 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,” said Kostich. “With Paramount, we have found a fantastic partner who we will work with to take that visceral, breathtaking action to the big screen in a defining cinematic moment. 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.”
What’s Next?
The Call of Duty movie is in early development, with no director or cast announced yet. Given Paramount’s recent box office success and Activision’s involvement, this could be one of the biggest video game adaptations to date.
