Bringing popular games to life has proven to be a successful tactic with production companies, with HBO’s The Last of Us having originally been a hit among gaming fans. This time, Paramount has struck a deal to develop Call of Duty into a live-action movie franchise.
Paramount CEO David Ellison is calling it a “dream come true,” with Activision and Paramount working together to develop and produce the franchise, per a report by Deadline.
The live-action movies based on the popular video game are “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.”
Call of Duty is, without a doubt, one of the most influential and popular games in the industry. The very first Call of Duty was released in late October of 2003 for PC and has since sold millions of copies, becoming the top gaming franchise in the U.S. for over a decade. Set in various eras from World War II to Vietnam, the first-person shooter game focuses on infantry combat from multiple perspectives.
“As a lifelong fan of Call of Duty this is truly a dream come true,” said Ellison in a statement. “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.”
The Paramount CEO promises they will approach the live-action with just as much “disciplined, uncompromising commitment” that was used for Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick. He also promises to meet the high standards that longtime fans expect and deserve from the project.
“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,” he said.
Activision president Rob Kostich adds, “The film will honor and expand upon what has made this franchise great in the first place, and we cannot wait to get started. Our shared goal is quite simple — to create an unforgettable blockbuster movie experience that our community loves, and one that also excites and inspires new fans of the franchise.”
Video games turned into movies have been done before with Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Lara Croft, Resident Evil, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Assassin’s Creed, to name a few. Some have proven their worth and become cult classics, while others did moderately well among fans.
For now, the Call of Duty live-action is still in development, with no news yet of who will lead the series and its cast. As well as a possible production start date and release time frame.
