The very popular Call of Duty franchise will make its debut in cinema
At the moment, the news around the Call of Duty franchise is crazy. The community keeps growing and the projects are evolving simultaneously to offer more and more entry points for newcomers. Thus, right in the middle of Season 5 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone, two days before the end of Season 7 of Call of Duty: Mobile and therefore the release of Season 8, shortly after revealing the release date of CoD Black Ops 7, Activision drops a bombshell: the franchise will be adapted into a movie.
A consecration for an ultra-popular franchise
In 1988, Mira Ninja: Keigumo Kinin Gaiden, the adaptation of Namco's Mirai Ninja game, innovated by adapting a video game into a film for the first time. However, the project went unnoticed and it wasn't until 1993 and the release of the Super Mario Bros. feature film that cinematic adaptations of video game projects became popular. Subsequently, various franchises have been adapted, from Street Fighter to Resident Evil, including Mortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, Need For Speed, Hitman, Assassin's Creed, Sonic, Uncharted, Warcraft, Minecraft, etc. However, among all the popular franchises that have been adapted to the big screen, there is one essential one missing... But not for much longer!
Indeed, 22 years after the release of the very first Call of Duty, Activision's flagship franchise is ready to take the leap. The publisher has just announced a major partnership with Paramount, a subsidiary of Skydance, to bring it to life in theaters. It was about time, knowing that Call of Duty has been the best-selling franchise in the United States for 16 consecutive years. It has sold over 500 million copies worldwide and many more players, considering the second-hand market or the presence of several installments in the Xbox Game Pass offer.
Whether you call it CoD or Call of, if you talk to someone who is even slightly interested in the video game sector, they will immediately understand that you are referring to Call of Duty. This shows how popular the franchise is, if not cult. Thus, to delight fans while trying to win over a new audience, Paramount will develop, produce, and distribute a live-action film, meaning with real shots. The script has not yet been revealed, but the two companies are committed to “respecting the narrative richness and distinctive style of the franchise.” This will provide a new entry point for newcomers, in addition to the comics that already exist, while giving fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the universe in a different way.
Let's end with the words of David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, a Skydance group company, who states: « As a long-time fan of Call of Duty, it's truly a dream come true. From the first allied campaigns in the original Call of Duty, through Modern Warfare and Black Ops, I have spent countless hours playing this franchise that I adore. Being entrusted by Activision and players worldwide to bring this extraordinary narrative universe to the big screen is both an honor and a responsibility we do not take lightly. We approach this project with the same rigorous and uncompromising commitment to excellence that guided our work on Top Gun: Maverick, to ensure it meets the exceptionally high standards that this franchise and its fans deserve. I can promise you that we are determined to deliver a cinematic experience that honors the legacy of this one-of-a-kind brand, captivating long-time Call of Duty fans while enticing an entirely new generation. »
