A live-action Call of Duty film is currently in development at Paramount, and while it’s still in its initial stages, Activision is reaching out to fans for their input on what they’d like to see inspire the movie’s storyline.
A survey, distributed to members of the exclusive “Recon Squad” community feedback program, prompts fans to prioritize potential inspirations for the film. Options range from well-known series like Black Ops and Modern Warfare to the popular Zombies storyline, or even other Call of Duty sub-brands like Ghosts or Advanced Warfare. Interestingly, the survey also explores whether fans would prefer a completely fresh, original narrative for the movie.
This fan engagement initiative was initially brought to light by the gaming news outlet, Detonated, who shared details of the survey on social media. The tweet from Detonated summarized the survey’s core question, asking players to rank their preferences for the movie’s inspiration: Black Ops, Modern Warfare, Call of Duty Zombies Story, other existing titles (like Ghosts or Advanced Warfare), or an entirely new Call of Duty narrative.
While fan input won’t be the sole determinant for the film’s direction, both Activision and Paramount are evidently eager to understand the community’s preferences and passions.
David Ellison, head of Paramount, expressed his deep admiration for the franchise during the film’s announcement, highlighting his appreciation for everything from the original World War II titles to the Black Ops and Modern Warfare sagas.
Ellison assured fans that the project would be handled with the same dedication and pursuit of excellence that defined their work on “Top Gun: Maverick.” He pledged a cinematic experience that would uphold the franchise’s esteemed legacy, thrilling loyal fans while simultaneously drawing in new audiences.
The endeavor to bring Call of Duty to the big screen is not new for Activision, which founded Activision Blizzard Studios in 2015 with the ambitious goal of creating an expansive cinematic universe around its popular game series. Although plans were in place for “many years” of films drawing from sub-brands like Modern Warfare and Black Ops, these projects never fully materialized.
Past attempts saw acclaimed director Stefano Sollima (known for Sicario: Day of Soldado) briefly attached to a Call of Duty film, with Oscar-nominated writer Scott Silver also slated to contribute to the script.
Even legendary director Steven Spielberg reportedly expressed interest in a Call of Duty adaptation, but his reported demands were not agreeable to Activision, leading to the project not moving forward with him.
Meanwhile, the next game in the franchise, Black Ops 7, is set to release in November, with a multiplayer beta scheduled for early October. Accompanying the news of the upcoming film, a substantial gallery featuring 130 screenshots for the next Call of Duty game, Black Ops 7, was also showcased.