The Long-Awaited Call of Duty Movie Is Finally Coming to Life After Over a Decade of Development Attempts

A film adaptation of the Call of Duty franchise is currently in development at Paramount, now under the leadership of billionaire and avid Call of Duty fan David Ellison. The script is being penned by the talented writer and director Taylor Sheridan, with Peter Berg, known for Lone Survivor, set to direct. Activision has been attempting to bring Call of Duty to the big screen for years, so what’s changed? Xbox chief Matt Booty shared that a connection formed between Paramount and key figures at Call of Duty, leading to a partnership that understands the game and its audience. “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 explained.

Activision initially announced plans for Call of Duty films through its Activision Blizzard Studios, established in 2015 and led by producers Stacey Sher and Nick van Dyk, with the goal of adapting its franchises for film and television. At one point, a Call of Duty cinematic universe was envisioned, but, as is often the case in Hollywood, those plans stalled. Booty emphasized that the idea for the movie originated from “the game team” rather than being a detached initiative.

Details about the film’s plot remain scarce, but Booty expressed confidence in Sheridan’s ability to craft a compelling narrative. “I think that the team feels that he’s got a good approach to characters and a good approach to story that’ll match up with their vision of what a Call of Duty movie [is],” he noted. With the franchise celebrating 20 years of diverse storytelling across various sub-brands like Modern Warfare and Black Ops, Booty acknowledged the challenge of selecting a starting point. “There’s two decades of Call of Duty—where do you start? Which character do you pick from which branch of the franchise? 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,” he said.

Recently, Activision conducted a survey inviting fans to rank their preferences for the film’s inspiration, offering options like Black Ops, Modern Warfare, Zombies, or a completely new story. As the project is still in its early stages, there are no updates on casting or a release date. Meanwhile, the latest game in the series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, has not achieved the same sales success as its predecessor, prompting Activision to announce significant changes for the franchise.