A live-action Call of Duty movie is being developed following a major deal that was struck between Paramount Pictures and Microsoft’s (MSFT) Activision Blizzard.
Paramount will develop, produce, and distribute the film based on the Call of Duty franchise in what will be the videogame’s first official cinematic adaptation. The development follows several years of industry discussions and rumors about the concept that date back to 2009.
The partnership is seen as a significant move by analysts because the Call of Duty game franchise has tallied more than 500 million copies sold and 16 consecutive years as the top-selling game franchise in the U.S.
So far, Paramount and Activision have not announced details on the movie’s plot, cast, or release window. However, the deal includes the potential for additional projects, such as sequels or even a TV show set in the Call of Duty universe.
“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,” stated Skydance (NASDAQ:PSKY) CEO David Ellison.
Skydance Media successfully closed its $8 billion merger transaction with financially struggling Paramount Global earlier in the month to create Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY).