With Paramount Global now under Skydance Media following their merger being made official early last month, the combined company has been looking to the future with regard to which projects will potentially bring in huge profits. Some of that new outlook is already taking shape, as news that should please video game fans has emerged: the immensely popular first-person shooter Call of Duty is finally headed to the big screen.
Per Deadline, Paramount has signed a deal with Activision, the video publisher behind Call of Duty, to embark on a live-action feature film adaptation. Paramount Chairman & CEO David Ellison has made it no secret that he wanted to bring CoD to the big screen, and it’s about more than visions of massive ticket sales — he happens to be an actual fan of the video game. Adding to the appeal of the adaptation is that it’s right in line with what Paramount wants to bring to the table in terms of tentpole releases with franchise appeal. Ellison believes it could have the same pull with audiences that helped make Top Gun: Maverick such a massive hit for the studio.
“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.”
Bringing ‘Call of Duty’ to the Big Screen Has Been Attempted Before
Activision
As fans of the game are no doubt well aware, this isn’t the first time someone’s taken a stab at a Call of Duty movie. In 2018, Activision, under its Activision Blizzard Studios banner, attempted to get a movie adaptation off the ground with Sicario 2: Soldado director Stefano Sollima. The project never came together, but it was clear that it was only a matter of time. It remains a popular video game franchise that still entertains gamers. If you have friends who ever say they’re playing “C.O.D” when you ask them what they’re up to, you’re definitely familiar with its pull.
Initially developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty was first published in 2003, with future development coming from Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games. The story was initially set during World War II, with the first installment, Call of Duty 2 and Call of Duty 3, focusing on that particular setting. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the first to be set in modern times and is considered by many in the industry to be a game-changer for the franchise.
Call of Duty now stands as one of the biggest video game franchises of all time, with over 500 million copies sold. It’s the top-selling first-person shooter, according to Guinness World Records, and ranks as the third best-selling video game series overall. With 100 million monthly active users, Call of Duty has pulled in a massive $30 billion in revenue, so it’s no surprise that Paramount is pretty excited to give it the big-screen treatment. If done right, there’s huge potential to make Call of Duty a massive film franchise.
You can view the original article HERE.
