The Call of Duty franchise is getting a film adaptation. 

This week, Paramount and Activision announced the signing of a film deal that aims to bring the Call of Duty game franchise to the big screen. Paramount is set to develop, produce, and distribute the upcoming live-action movie based on Call of Duty, though a release date has not been confirmed yet. 

Call of Duty movie adaptation confirmed by Paramount and Activision

A movie adaptation of Activision’s hit first-person shooter franchise Call of Duty is officially in the works. Paramount, the movie distributor behind films like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Top Gun: Maverick, and Gladiator II, is set to take on the project after signing a deal with video game publisher Activision. 

Paramount CEO and chairman David Ellison noted that he was a Call of Duty fan in a news release for the announcement, saying:

“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 honour 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 honours the legacy of this one-in-a-million brand – thrilling longtime fans of Call of Duty while captivating a whole new generation.” 

Activision’s president Rob Kostich added:

“Throughout its history, Call of Duty has captured our imagination with incredible action and intense stories that have brought millions of people together from around the world, and that focus on making incredible Call of Duty games remains unwavering. With Paramount, we have found a fantastic partner who we will work with to take that visceral, breathtaking action to the big screen in a defining cinematic moment. The film will honour 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."

This isn’t the first time Activision Blizzard has attempted to get the ball rolling on a cinematic adaptation of Call of Duty. In 2015, the publisher launched a production studio called Activision Blizzard Studios with plans to create a live-action Call of Duty universe by 2019. Actors Tom Hardy and Chris Pine were considered as leads for the movie, with Joe Robert Cole (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) set to write the film. While filming was set to begin in 2019, it was revealed in 2020 that the project had been shelved indefinitely. 

Hopefully, the second time’s the charm for Activision. The next installment of the Call of Duty game franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, is set to launch on 14 November, 2025.