Everything We Know About the Upcoming Call of Duty Movie

A Call of Duty movie is officially in development, with notable talent on board for writing and directing. This project has been a long time coming, as plans for a Call of Duty film—and a broader cinematic universe—were first revealed over a decade ago. Now, the project is gaining momentum. Here’s what we know so far about the Call of Duty movie, and we’ll keep this updated as new information emerges.

What’s the Call of Duty movie about? This is a burning question among fans, but details remain scarce. In their initial announcement, the studio expressed a commitment to honoring the franchise’s rich narrative and unique style, promising an “authentic and exciting experience” for both longtime fans and newcomers. While these statements sound promising, they don’t provide much insight into the film’s actual storyline. Earlier this year, a survey was sent out to fans, asking them to rank potential inspirations for the film, including options like Black Ops, Modern Warfare, Zombies, or even a completely original story. However, just because fan feedback is being gathered doesn’t guarantee it will influence the final direction of the film.

The Call of Duty franchise has been around for 20 years, featuring a variety of narratives across its different sub-brands. For instance, the Modern Warfare series is known for its traditional military themes, while Black Ops leans into more surreal and conspiracy-driven storytelling. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity, as the Head of Xbox Game Studios noted. “With two decades of content, where do you start? Which character do you choose from which branch of the franchise?” he said, adding that the team has a clear vision and believes the director will align well with their goals.

The head of the studio has expressed his lifelong passion for the series, stating that bringing this storytelling universe to the big screen is both an honor and a significant responsibility. He emphasized that they are approaching the film with the same commitment to excellence that guided their previous successful projects.

Who’s behind the camera and penning the script? The film will be directed by Peter Berg, known for his work in the war genre, including the film Lone Survivor, which depicted a harrowing true story from Afghanistan. He has also directed action-packed films like The Kingdom and Battleship. The screenplay is being crafted by Taylor Sheridan, an Oscar-nominated writer-director recognized for his work on Hell or High Water, Sicario, and Wind River, as well as the popular Yellowstone series.

As for the cast, no announcements have been made yet regarding who will star in the film.

When can we expect to see the Call of Duty movie? It’s still early in the development process, and a release date has not been set. The studio is currently navigating some corporate challenges, which may affect timelines.

The journey to this point has been lengthy. Activision initially announced plans for Call of Duty films through its Activision Blizzard Studios label in 2015, with the goal of adapting its franchises for film and TV. Although a cinematic universe was once envisioned, progress stalled for several years. In 2017, Activision revealed that multiple scripts were in development for various sub-brands, indicating a long-term plan.

So, why is the Call of Duty movie finally moving forward now? The Head of Xbox Game Studios mentioned that a partnership developed between the studio and key executives involved with Call of Duty, leading to a shared vision for the project. The President of Activision also highlighted the franchise’s ability to captivate audiences with its thrilling action and compelling stories, expressing excitement about collaborating with the studio to create a blockbuster experience that resonates with both existing fans and newcomers.

However, it’s important to remember that just because a deal has been struck doesn’t guarantee the film will come to fruition. With over 50 video game adaptations currently in the works, not all will see the light of day. Some industry insiders believe that video games are becoming the next big source for film adaptations, especially following the success of recent films based on video games.