Info in Movie News | Paramount has officially confirmed one of its boldest moves yet, a live-action adaptation of Call of Duty. The video game franchise that has dominated the industry for over two decades is finally making the jump to the big screen, a project long awaited by fans and long considered one of the most valuable untapped properties in gaming.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the investment of Paramount and Activision will not only make a call from the CoD universe to the big screen but also allow a further spread of the franchise into various media outlets. Besides that, the writing of the plot is still a secret, but the staff works on the general idea of using some popular characters from the series and mixing an amazing stunt with believable military thematic.
One of the most famous characters in the series, Captain John Price is at the core of all the speculation. Initially, Price was the protagonist of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) and since then his signature boonie hat, mustache, and rough yet loyal leadership style have become the hallmark of the franchise and a favorite with the fans. His vital role across the entire Modern Warfare storyline has placed him as the most likely person to carry over the movie interpretation. Fans argue that casting the right actor for Price will be crucial in winning over audiences. Names like Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill have already circulated in fan discussions online.
Another set of characters expected to be part of Paramount’s adaptation comes from the Black Ops series, Alex Mason and Frank Woods. Mason's narrative, which was heavily intertwined with Cold War spy activities and mind games, would add to the movie a thriller vibe that is not only limited to the war scenes. Woods, characterized by his witty humor and gruff nature, has the potential to become one of the most compelling characters that can easily transfer from theater to cinematic. In case the studio Paramount decides to build storylines around these characters, then they would be able to develop not only several spin-offs but also a long-lasting series.
According to David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, converting Call of Duty to another medium is not just work but the realization of a "dream come true" for him as a lifelong fan who has played the series from the very first campaigns to Modern Warfare and Black Ops. He further stated that it is a double-edged moment- an event of a pure delight to bring such an expansive universe of storytelling to the cinema and a frightening task in terms of the responsibility that comes with it.
Ellison mentioned that the making of the game movie is being done with the same meticulousness that led to the success of Top Gun: Maverick, Paramount's worldwide box office hit of 2022. That flick was one of the year's most talked-about phenomena as it managed to blend the energetic action sequences with heartfelt storytelling, and now the studio is aiming to produce the same harmony with Call of Duty.
It was impossible to have better timing. In recent years, Hollywood has finally begun to crack the code of video game adaptations. Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed over $1 billion worldwide, HBO’s The Last of Us earned critical acclaim, and Paramount itself found success with Sonic the Hedgehog, which spawned sequels and streaming spin-offs. With Call of Duty selling more than 500 million copies worldwide and generating over $30 billion in revenue, the franchise offers both massive brand recognition and a rich library of storylines to explore.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first attempt to turn Call of Duty into a movie. Back in 2018, Activision Blizzard Studios tapped Stefano Sollima (Sicario 2: Soldado) to direct a potential adaptation, but the project never made it to production. This time, with Paramount’s resources and commitment, industry insiders believe the odds of success are significantly higher.
Rob Kostich, the president of Activision, said that Call of Duty has been a big attraction to gamers for a long time because of its exciting gameplay and engaging narratives, which has connected players from all over the world. He stated that the collaboration with Paramount is an ideal move to deliver the movie going audience that very same power and thrill of a first-ever movie take of the franchise.
Beyond the excitement, the move also fits Paramount’s larger strategy under Ellison’s leadership. Since merging with Skydance earlier this year, the company has been aggressively expanding its portfolio of blockbuster-friendly intellectual properties. This includes securing UFC broadcast rights in a $7.7 billion deal, and signing an exclusive creative partnership with Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers. The Call of Duty movie is another essential element of the plan to create a franchise that could extend over movies, series, and streaming.
Moreover, the fan discussions that have started before the announcement of a director, a screenwriter, and the cast are very positive and they see the Call of Duty franchise possibly becoming as big as the Mission: Impossible or the John Wick franchises. The combination of modern warfare, espionage, and recognizable characters is indeed perfect for narratives that can develop with every new installment.
It really doesn't matter if it is Captain Price that takes the lead, Mason that fights his inner psychological demons, or Woods that is making fun of the situation in the middle of chaos because, with Paramount's adaptation, video game movies might be entering a new era. For now, fans will be waiting eagerly for the first details, and eventually, the first explosive trailer.
source The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline
Post a Comment