In a landmark collaboration, Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, has signed a film deal with Activision to bring the Call of Duty universe to life on the big screen.
Paramount will bring its chops in film production and distribution to the Activision Call of Duty series, which is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. In the U.S., Call of Duty has been the No. 1 best-selling video game series for 16 consecutive years with over 500 million copies sold globally.
With hundreds of millions of fans around the world, this means the pressure will be on to get the film right when it comes to the nuances of the franchise, which first debuted in 2003 as a first-person shooter game. Playing Call of Duty games every year is my favorite gaming tradition, and the games are always cinematic experiences already, with over-the-top action that seems designed on the level of blockbuster movie experiences.
This partnership aims to bring the iconic Call of Duty universe to life on the big screen, delivering an unforgettable cinematic event for fans worldwide. It’s another example of how games are taking over pop culture, as Call of Duty has been part of the global entertainment conversation for over two decades.
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.
David Ellison, son of Larry Ellison and founder of Skydance Corp., recently acquired Paramount. As chairman and CEO of Paramount, he said in a statement, “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.”
He added, “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’s Skydance Media completed its merger with Paramount Global in August, and he now serves as the combined company’s chairman and CEO. The deal created Paramount Skydance Corp.
Rob Kostich, president of Activision, a division of Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard, said in a statement, “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.”
He added, “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 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.”
Skydance also has its own game division, Skydance Interactive, and Paramount has three main businesses: studios, direct-to-consumer and TV media.
Microsoft is already riding high on the success of A Minecraft Movie, based on its Minecraft gaming property from Mojang Studio. That film debuted in Aprl and it has already hit $957.7 million in global box office proceeds.
Microsoft acquired Call of Duty with its purchase of Activision Blizzard King in October 2023. To do so, it had to please antitrust regulators by voluntarily agreeing to make Call of Duty available on other platforms for a decade.
Neither party said what kind of film they would make yet. For Call of Duty, there are multiple narrative threads and characters, like Black Ops, Modern Warfare, Zombies and more.