With the Skydance and Paramount merger finalized, there is now word that the studio side of things is looking to get its mitts on the rights to one of the most recognizable video game brands, “Call of Duty.”
A recent item in the Puck News newsletter has revealed that the new regime led by David Ellison is in “negotiations” to acquire the film rights to Activision‘s “Call of Duty,” calling it a “priority” for the studio despite past failed attempts by others to adapt it for the big screen.
UPDATE: We can now confirm that Skydance/Paramount/Activision has closed the deal, as the official press release reveals everything has been finalized.
Under this milestone partnership, Paramount will develop, produce, and distribute a live-action feature film based on “Call of Duty,” designed to thrill its massive global fan base by delivering on the hallmarks of what fans love about the iconic series, while boldly expanding the franchise to entirely new audiences. Both companies are committed to honoring the brand’s rich narrative and distinctive style, promising an authentic and exciting experience for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
“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. 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,” Ellison said in an official statement.
If you’re not aware, multiple “Call of Duty” games, which started out in a WWII setting, are inspired by bombastic military action movies themselves, and could fit well alongside projects like “Top Gun: Maverick” (“Top Gun 3” on deck) and the “Mission: Impossible” movies, making this the kind of IP that may work best in the hands of folks like Christopher McQuarrie, Joseph Kosinski, or Michael Bay (attached for a new live-action “Transformers” installment).
The yearly released military first-person shooter games are mega-popular with video game influencers, streamers, YouTubers, and the Esports world. However, the two main established plot lines in the games (not all the stories or timelines interconnect with each other) that seem ripe for feature adaptation would be either “Modern Warfare” or the “Black Ops” (covering the Cold War and into near-future settings of 2025-2045) run of games. Protagonists such as Frank Woods, Alex Mason, David Mason (the upcoming “Black Ops 7” lead is now played by Milo Ventimiglia), Soap, Captain Price, and Ghost could be the way to go, unless the studio simply wants to create an original group of characters for a film/TV franchise.
Puck previously claimed that Paramount is also attempting to distribute Legendary‘s (said to be looking to acquire Lionsgate) new “Street Fighter” movie from director Kitao Sakurai (after Sony had been previously attached), which would be another notch in their belt in pursuit of video game franchises as they look to develop a partnership with the folks behind “A Minecraft Movie” (nearly earned a billion at the global box office) and Denis Villeneuve‘s “Dune” franchise.
“Call of Duty” would be among other military video game IP studios had been trying to turn into features over the years, such as “Ghost Recon,” “Splinter Cell,” and Sony’s “Metal Gear Solid.” We’ll keep our fingers crossed that Paramount will be able to put together a compelling creative team; until then, fans will just have to be patient, as it’s early days on this potential iteration.
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