In a head-scratching twist, at some point Activision reportedly turned down a Call of Duty project led by director who inadvertently defined the franchise’s direction, Steven Spielberg.
According to Puck News, Spielberg was lobbying for the job of leading Call of Duty’s charge to the big screen, but Activision balked at some of the terms of the deal. Spielberg likely needs no introduction, as the director behind films like Jaws, Schindler’s List, and Jurassic Park.
Multiple movie studios were pitching Activision on the film at some point, and that included Universal, with Spielberg as director. But according to Puck News, said deal would have given the renowned director “top-of-market economics, final cut, and full control over production and marketing.” That’s definitely asking a lot, but with one of the most renowned directors of all time, it’s not entirely surprising.
Activision, instead, decided to go with Paramount for Call of Duty, likely influenced by the 2022 release of Top Gun: Maverick. Just earlier this week the deal was officially announced with David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, saying
“We’re approaching this film with the same disciplined, uncompromising commitment to excellence that guided our work on Top Gun: Maverick, ensuring it meets the exceptionally high standards this franchise and its fans deserve. I can promise that we are resolute in our mission to deliver a cinematic experience that honors the legacy of this one-in-a-million brand – thrilling longtime fans of Call of Duty while captivating a whole new generation.”
Quite a few fans have already pointed out how strange a decision it seems to pass on someone like Spielberg, who quite literally influenced a generation of media with Saving Private Ryan. It’s no stretch to say that Call of Duty 2’s biggest influence was Saving Private Ryan, and that tone and style has seeped into the series ever since. Call of Duty probably, genuinely, wouldn’t be what it is without Spielberg, so from a broad overview he does make the most sense.
That’s not to say another director couldn’t do a bang-up job with a film adaption, but if you asked me to say the first name that popped into my mind Spielberg would be it – and I think it likely many others would say the same.
As for how the Call of Duty movie actually pans out, we’ll just have to wait and see. Video game adaptions have come a long way, but we still see the occasional stinker now and then.
The Call of Duty movie currently has no release date, as we don’t know who’s attached to write, direct, or star.
