The partnership between Paramount Pictures and Activision has officially announced that a live-action film based on the popular Call of Duty franchise is in the works.
“As a lifelong fan of Call of Duty, this is truly a dream come true,” said David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount. “From the initial Allied campaigns in the original game to Modern Warfare and Black Ops, I’ve spent countless hours immersed in this franchise I deeply love. Being entrusted by Activision and fans worldwide to bring this extraordinary universe to the big screen is both an honor and a significant responsibility we approach with great care.”
Ellison added, “We’re committed to approaching this project with the same discipline and high standards that guided our work on Top Gun: Maverick. Our goal is to create a cinematic experience that respects the franchise’s legacy—exciting longtime fans of Call of Duty while also captivating new audiences.”
In addition to this announcement, Paramount Pictures has reportedly been in negotiations to acquire film rights to another major video game series.
This move follows Paramount’s successful collaboration with SEGA on the Sonic the Hedgehog live-action movies. Since its debut five years ago, Sonic has grown into a blockbuster franchise, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide. According to Puck, Paramount is now aiming to secure the film rights to Activision’s flagship franchise, Call of Duty. Despite the complexities involved in adapting a video game into a live-action film, studio executives David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Josh Greenstein reportedly consider it a top priority. Currently, no creative team has been officially attached to the project.
Historically, Activision attempted to develop a Call of Duty cinematic universe in 2015 by launching Activision Blizzard Studios. Rumored to lead this effort were actors Tom Hardy and Chris Pine, with Stefano Sollima—director of Sicario: Day of the Soldado—and Black Panther screenwriter Joe Robert Cole attached at various points. However, Sollima confirmed in 2020 that the project was placed on hold.
Since its debut in 2003, Call of Duty has become one of the most successful first-person shooter franchises, with over 30 titles across various settings—ranging from World War II to modern and futuristic warfare. It has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling video game franchises in history.
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