After the studio completed an $8 billion merger with David Ellison’s Skydance, Paramount has struck a deal with Activision to bring the blockbuster video game franchise Call of Duty to cinema screens for the first time.
Paramount has struck a deal with Activision to bring the blockbuster video game franchise Call of Duty to cinema screens for the first time.
The studio – which last month completed an $8 billion merger with David Ellison’s Skydance – will develop, produce and distribute a live-action film based on the long-running military shooter series. Activision, which has been part of Microsoft since its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2022, confirmed the deal will initially focus on a single movie but leaves scope for expansion across film and television.
David Ellison, Paramount’s chairman and chief executive, said: “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.”
Activision president Rob Kostich added: “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.”
The franchise, first released in 2003, has become one of the most successful video game series of all time, selling more than 500m copies worldwide and generating $30 billion in revenue as of 2022.
Its numerous titles include interconnected storylines, particularly the Black Ops sub-series developed by Treyarch, which is due to release Black Ops 7 later this year.
The Paramount–Activision deal comes during a period of renewed Hollywood interest in video game adaptations. Recent years have seen the release of Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Bros. and A Minecraft Movie, while Paramount itself has enjoyed success with its Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, which has produced sequels and streaming spinoffs.
Paramount strikes deal with Activision to bring Call of Duty to cinemas
