Video games have been making the leap to television and movies for decades, with Fallout, Twisted Metal, Minecraft, and Until Dawn among the most recent examples. Today, Paramount and Activision have announced a deal to bring one of the largest video game franchises in the world, Call of Duty, to the silver screen.
With the deal, Paramount will “develop, produce, and distribute a live-action feature film based on Call of Duty,” according to the official release. No specific details on the film itself were revealed, including release window or story details, but the release stated that both Paramount and Activision “are committed to honoring the brand’s rich narrative and distinctive style, promising an authentic and exciting experience for longtime fans and newcomers alike.”
Paramount is no stranger to adapting video games to feature films, as its first foray into video game movies can be traced back to Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie in 2001. The studio is also currently enjoying success with the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy starring Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, and Jim Carrey.
Rumors of a new Call of Duty movie have swirled for years, with speculation that a CoD movie would draw from both Black Ops and Modern Warfare. Various writers have reportedly been attached over the years, such as a writer from the critically acclaimed Joker film, among the many headlines circling the project. Back in 2017, then-Activision executive Tim Kilpin told MCV that, “frankly, if the script and the story isn’t right we won’t do it.”
While the movie has no set release timing, the next CoD video game, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, is due to launch November 14 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The Carry Forward option for weapon and operator skins purchased in Black Ops 6 will not apply to Black Ops 7. The statement announcing this change referenced that Call of Duty had “drifted from what made Call of Duty unique in the first place,” and that fan feedback “hits home, and we take it seriously.”