Call of Duty Movie: Taylor Sheridan & Peter Berg Try to Crack the Code (Again!)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg are set to write, direct, and produce a live-action Call of Duty movie, continuing a long and often-failed history of attempts to bring the popular game franchise to the big screen. This news arrives amidst Sheridan's recent blockbuster deal with NBCUniversal and the ongoing challenge of adapting CoD's diverse timelines and fan expectations.
Right then, team! Strap in, because we've got a bit of a classic gaming saga unfolding in Hollywood – the 'Call of Duty movie' saga, to be precise. It’s been a long, winding road, folks, filled with more false starts than a no-scope montage, but it looks like we’ve got a new crew stepping up to the plate. Paramount Pictures and Activision have officially announced that none other than Taylor Sheridan, the brains behind *Yellowstone* (and a gazillion other hit TV shows), is set to pen and produce the live-action *Call of Duty* film. Joining him in this monumental quest is Peter Berg, who’ll also be writing, directing, and producing. David Glasser is on board as producer too. Talk about a full house!
Now, before we get *too* hyped, my naturally curious wizard brain has to poke at a few things. Remember that 'related reads' nugget from the original scoop by Jim Vejvoda over at IGN South Africa? Apparently, Mr. Berg once, shall we say, expressed some… *less than glowing* opinions about people who play video games. Bit of an interesting choice for a director, eh? It’s like hiring a dragon slayer to design your dragon-themed amusement park. I reckon he’s had a change of heart, or maybe Activision just has some *really* persuasive legendary loot boxes. We'll give him the benefit of the doubt, for now.
And Sheridan? Bloody hell, the man’s been busy! He recently made headlines by ditching Paramount+ (after making them a small fortune with hits like *Yellowstone*, *Tulsa King*, *Mayor of Kingstown*, and more) for a rumoured billion-dollar deal with NBCUniversal. Apparently, Paramount, now under Skydance's ownership, didn't even bother to try and keep their hit-maker. Fair dinkum, Paramount, that's a bit of a tactical fumble, isn't it? Losing the guy who practically built your streaming empire? Makes you wonder what spells they’re casting over there.
Now, for the really juicy bit for us long-time players: this isn't the first time the *Call of Duty* movie has been 'a thing.' Oh no, mate, this franchise has seen more attempts at a big-screen adaptation than I've seen glitch spots in *Warzone*. Activision first trademarked the idea back in 2009. Then, in 2013, former CEO Bobby Kotick threw some serious cold water on the whole concept, wisely noting that 'movies based on video games rarely please devoted fans and could taint the brand.' He wasn't wrong, was he?
But then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes (or perhaps just a corporate pivot), Activision Blizzard Studios popped up in 2016. By 2017, they were sketching out plans for a full-blown, Marvel-style CoD cinematic universe! Remember that? It was going to be epic! *Sicario 2: Soldado*'s Stefano Sollima was attached to direct a *CoD* movie in 2018, with *Black Panther*'s Joe Robert Cole scripting a sequel before the first one was even made. Talk about getting ahead of yourselves. And what happened to all those grand plans? Poof! Vanished into the digital ether, like a player disconnecting mid-match. Obviously, none of those materialized. Not even a single teaser trailer!
So, here we are again. Will this be the one? Will Sheridan and Berg finally crack the code of adapting a franchise that's bounced from World War II to modern warfare to futuristic battles, all while satisfying a player base that’s seen it all? It’s a tough mission, no doubt. The next game, *Call of Duty: Black Ops 7*, is due in November, keeping the game side of things ticking along. But can Hollywood truly capture the frenetic energy and diverse narratives of *Call of Duty* without turning it into just another generic action flick?
I’m cautiously optimistic, like a wizard preparing a new spell. The talent on board is undeniable, but the history of video game movies (and specifically *CoD* movies) is a bit of a grim reaper. Let’s hope this time, they've got the cheat codes. Or at least a really good respawn mechanic. Cheers to Jim Vejvoda at IGN South Africa for originally breaking the news that got us all wondering again!
Tags: Call of Duty, Video Game Adaptation, Hollywood, Film Production, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa