"Call of Duty" Live-Action Film in the Works with Paramount and Activision

Activision's "Call of Duty" franchise is being adapted into a live-action feature film by Paramount and Skydance, with a focus on honoring the brand's "rich narrative and distinctive style". The film will be made by the same team behind "Top Gun: Maverick", with the goal of delivering a high-quality movie experience for fans of the popular video game franchise. The "Call of Duty" franchise has sold over 500 million copies globally and remains a dominant force in the video gaming world.

Paramount Global and Skydance have inked a deal with Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard to adapt the popular video game franchise "Call of Duty" into a live-action feature film. The agreement, announced on September 2, 2025, marks a significant move in the entertainment industry as video game IP continues to gain traction in film production.

Under the partnership, Paramount will develop, produce, and distribute a live-action film based on the "Call of Duty" universe, which encompasses over 30 mainline games since its debut in 2003. The valuation of the deal was not disclosed, but the pact includes the potential for Paramount to expand the "Call of Duty" universe across film and TV [1].

The "Call of Duty" franchise has sold over 500 million copies globally and generated $30 billion in revenue as of 2022, making it one of the most successful video game franchises of all time [1]. The film will be created by the same team behind the highly successful "Top Gun: Maverick," ensuring a high standard of production and storytelling [2].

Paramount CEO David Ellison, a lifelong fan of the "Call of Duty" franchise, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. "As a lifelong fan of 'Call of Duty' this is truly a dream come true," he said in a statement. "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" [2].

Activision president Rob Kostich echoed Ellison's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of honoring the brand's "rich narrative and distinctive style" while expanding the franchise to new audiences. "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," Kostich said [2].

This deal is part of a series of strategic moves by Paramount since its $8 billion merger with Skydance, including securing the rights to "Stranger Things" and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. The "Call of Duty" film is expected to be a major addition to Paramount's slate, leveraging the franchise's global popularity and dedicated fan base [2].

The adaptation of video game franchises into films has seen mixed success in the past, but recent hits like "Mortal Kombat," "Super Mario Bros.," and "A Minecraft Movie" indicate a growing trend. With "Call of Duty," Paramount aims to capitalize on this trend while delivering a high-quality cinematic experience that respects the source material [2].

References:
[1] https://variety.com/2025/film/news/call-of-duty-movie-paramount-skydance-1236504600/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/paramount-activision-strike-deal-call-duty-live-action-film-2025-09-02/