Paramount Bets 'Call of Duty' Film Will Build Next Major Franchise

Paramount Global is banking on one of gaming's biggest brands to bolster its film slate, tapping director Peter Berg and writer Taylor Sheridan to adapt Activision's "Call of Duty" franchise for theaters.

The project, announced in September by Paramount Skydance Corp., marks the latest Hollywood effort to mine videogame intellectual property for cinematic gold. For Paramount, the stakes are particularly high: The studio is positioning "Call of Duty" as a potential tentpole franchise that could generate sequels and spinoffs for years to come.

"Call of Duty," which debuted in 2003 as a World War II first-person shooter, has grown into one of entertainment's most valuable properties. The franchise has spawned more than 30 titles and generated billions in revenue, with over 500 million copies sold globally. That built-in fan base represents a significant opportunity for Paramount as it seeks to compete with rival studios' franchise-driven strategies.

Berg, whose credits include "Deepwater Horizon" and "Friday Night Lights," will direct and co-write the script with Sheridan, the prolific creator behind the "Yellowstone" universe. Both will produce alongside David Glasser of 101 Studios.

Paramount has released few details about the plot but emphasized the film will maintain the franchise's trademark military realism while appealing to broader audiences beyond the game's core players.

Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg Lead Call of Duty Movie Adaptation

The adaptation has been years in the making. Italian director Stefano Sollima was previously attached to the project with a planned 2019 release, but that effort stalled indefinitely by 2020. Director Steven Spielberg also reportedly pursued the project before Paramount's involvement but couldn't reach an agreement with Activision over creative control.

The revival comes as Activision, now owned by Microsoft following a $68.7 billion acquisition, pursues a broader media strategy. Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison has drawn comparisons between the "Call of Duty" project and "Top Gun: Maverick," suggesting the studio views it as a high-stakes bet on military-themed storytelling with franchise potential comparable to "Mission: Impossible" or "John Wick."

The push reflects Hollywood's intensifying pursuit of gaming properties. Recent successes include HBO's "The Last of Us," which earned 24 Emmy nominations, Netflix's "Arcane" and Sony's "Uncharted," which grossed $407 million worldwide. Those hits have demonstrated that videogame adaptations, long derided as commercial failures, can achieve both critical acclaim and box-office success when executed effectively.

Still, the road from console to cinema remains treacherous. Despite strong brand recognition, adaptations like "Resident Evil" and "Warcraft" have delivered mixed results, suggesting that name value alone doesn't guarantee success. Industry analysts say Paramount and Activision must balance fan expectations with mainstream accessibility, a challenge that has tripped up numerous predecessors.

For Activision, the film represents an opportunity to follow competitors like Ubisoft and Riot Games in expanding gaming franchises into adjacent media. For Paramount, it's a test of whether the studio can transform a videogame property into a durable cinematic universe at a time when reliable franchises are increasingly valuable to Hollywood's bottom line.