A Call of Duty movie is now officially in the works after a series of failed attempts. Launching back in 2003, Activision’s Call of Duty franchise now comprises 30 тιтles in the mainline series. The first-person shooter games continue to be immensely popular, captivating gamers with their campaign and multiplayer offerings, which feature bombastic, fast-paced combat.

Paramount announced today that, under a new deal with Activision, the company will develop, produce, and distribute a live-action feature film based on Call of Duty. The movie will feature hallmarks of the games, including the brand’s “rich narrative and distinctive style,” with the film hyped as being an “authentic and exciting experience.”

David Ellison, the Chairman and CEO of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, shared the following statement about the deal, citing Top Gun: Maverick as an example of how they will approach the film:

“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.”

Activision President Rob Kostich also shared an enthusiastic statement about the Paramount deal and the future Call of Duty film, revealing that they intend to please longtime fans and newcomers alike:

“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 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.”

What This Means For Call Of Duty

The announcement of the Call of Duty movie does not include any information regarding what games or storylines will be adapted. The Modern Warfare and Black Ops sub-franchises remain two of the most popular under the Call of Duty banner, with the former featuring gritty, pulled-from-the-headlines storylines while the latter spans conflicts of the past, present, and future with mind-bending twists.

Which sub-franchise the Call of Duty movie adapts will have a major impact on the film’s tone. It’s also worth noting that the Black Ops franchise is famed for its popular zombies mode, which itself has a rich, multi-game-spanning story with returning characters. The Black Ops storyline will continue this fall in the franchise’s upcoming release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

With this latest Call of Duty announcement, there is no timeline for when the film may actually release. First steps will include finding a writer, determining a story direction, and completing a script, and this process could take quite some time. Any movie, then, is several years away at best.

Additional reporting from Variety notes that the deal between Paramount and Activision includes the potential for the Call of Duty universe to expand across film and TV. This likely depends on how the initial movie is received, but given the franchise’s immense popularity and ubiquity in the video game space, the adaptation is already on sure footing.​​​​​​​

Our Take On The Call Of Duty Movie

Given just how popular Call of Duty is, it’s surprising that a movie has not yet gotten off the ground. If done right, a film has the potential to further expand the franchise’s reach in a big way, with recent video game movies, such as A Minecraft Movie (2025), resonating with audiences.

Though both Modern Warfare and Black Ops would make great fits for a film, the latter makes more sense at first glance. Black Ops‘ tone and CIA storyline, particularly from the first game, could allow for deeper characters and themes that go beyond familiar war movie storytelling, incorporating elements of mystery and potentially even horror.

It remains to be seen how the Call of Duty movie will continue to develop over the coming months and years, but Paramount evidently has a major opportunity here to attract a large audience.