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A Call of Duty Movie is Actually Closer Than We Thought?

by Alex Billington
November 18, 2009
Source: NY Post

Way back in May, we reported on a very minor tidbit of news regarding a Call of Duty movie, based on the ever-popular series of video games. Since then, we haven't really heard much else on the Call of Duty movie front. However, with the extremely succesful release of Modern Warfare 2 (another sequel in the series) last week, I'm sure Hollywood is antsy about getting a movie into development. Interestingly, the NY Post has a small update from actor Kevin McKidd, who voices Captain 'Soap' MacTavish in the Modern Warfare games, and it sounds like it might be further along than we thought. Or at least there's more to the rumor.

"They were looking for a rough, Scottish actor in Hollywood, they probably couldn't get Gerard Butler, so they got the No. 2 Gerard Butler, me. I had no idea it would be so huge, and now there are talks of a feature film," he revealed to PopWrap. Then came the kicker, when asked if he would be bringing Soap to life in the movie, he said, "if the script is good, and Gerard isn't available [laughs], then absolutely."

I may be reading between the lines a little too much, but it sounds like they have an actual team developing this, and a script is being written (which was more than we knew in May). If they're already at a point where they're joking about which actors they want, then Activison must be serious about getting this made soon. But as with before, I have to bring up the same questions I had originally. Will this follow the World War II-set story in the earlier Call of Duty games or will it be based off of the contemporary storyline from the Modern Warfare games? And would either story even make for a good movie? Is there even an answer?

And if you're interested, McKidd also told the NY Post that there's a script for a feature version of HBO's "Rome" floating around Hollywood. It's about time McKidd got some good exposure up on the big screen!

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

http://www.twitter.com/barnabybarrilla Barnaby Barrilla

Wow... Very interesting. I just hope they don't mess it up. Hollywood usually messes up video game movies, but I have my fingers crossed for this one.
Rick

I would go!
joe popcorn

There is absolutely nothing interesting about the story in either game, they are basically hollywood action movies with some clancy mixed in. You could not get more generic. The non-modern warfare games are even worse, they are basically just a series of WWII movie cliches. Doesn't mean it would be worse then other videogame movies since there's nothing actively ridiculous about the story like with a lot of games. It's just boring and anything interesting will have to come from the acting/direction/effects

Just a guy

Well you most likely did not play the game and are just judging off of what you heard.
Just another guy

Youre probably only saying that cause you suck at the game.

Solo Dolo Polo

They better work on Modern Warfare not World at war. Even though I love WWII movies.
SlashBeast

Call of Duty is pointless as a movie. It's just going to end up as another generic war film. The game is great because it's YOU playing in the war. The movie removes that. Besides, the story in the games is nothing really special in the film world anyway.
Frame

Stamp the "Call of Duty" name on something like Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan and it wouldn't make a difference. So what's the point?
Jason H

I dont know about this. It's been some bad movies based off video games. I dont think they can pull off a movie of the single greatest game of all time...Modern Warfare 2. They better do World at War
nate

He would be much better than Gerard anyways. And I wish they would make a Rome movie, such a great show
Dgeet

they better combine both plots of MW1 and MW2 and finish the story of tht russian terriost
Janny

the story in MW1 is more developed and has more depth than MW2 where its the ending bits of what could have been 5 stories like the two plot lines in MW1 kevin mcKidd would be a good choice for a role, especially if he is to be cast as Soap... just like sci fi... you can never have enough war movies
PinkSushi

updates on metal gear solid is needed
Hedgehog

Eh... leave games to games and movies to movies. I'm sick of seeing video games based on movies... they are always crap. Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen video game anybody? Spider-Man? Hulk? Wanted... These should stay as movies. AND... The same goes the other way around. What works on paper doesn't always work on the big screen. What works in video games almost NEVER works on the big screen. I'm sick of this re-hashing, re-making, re-booting Hollywood we've found ourselves at the mercy of. Bring back the films that were great stories and great acting. Not everything needs to have previously made source material to make it good. SAME GOES FOR TV!: 90210?! KNIGHT RIDER?!?! (thank god that failed in a flaming crash of awesome). How many re-makes we need before somebody either shuts down entertainment all together or decides to remove the perpetual recreation stick from their ass? ALSO! (while I'm on my little rant here) Stop with the 1000's of the same show on TV. I only need one NCIS/CSI/Law 'n' Order. . . . . I hope this movie fails because as much as I love the game, I would NEVER see it as a movie. The campaign barely held my attention as it was. People love this game for the multi-player. The plot is merely there to get you used to your controls, used to your guns, understand the mechanics and then let you on your merry way to have a good ol' fashion shoot 'em up. I'm done, I swear.
Colt

#4...they said Soap. so that means it's during MW, not WW2. #3, please name a game out there that has a better story line than the Cod4 and MW2 campaigns? i'd really like to know because infinity ward is doing one hell of a job at creating a very enteraining and well thought out storyline.
SS

At No. 13... Better story than COD? Try "The Indigo Prophecy".
WO0t

at #13, Soap is in MW2
d1rEct

I have given up on movie based video games. I read a script adapted from Modern Warefare (the first game) and it was utter shite.
L

#13 as much as I liked COD4 story, MW2 was meh at best. I think Popeye the musical was better
Xerxex

"they probably couldn't get Gerard Butler, so they got the No. 2 Gerard Butler, me" sounds pretty good.
Governor

Please, COD's story is as generic as they come. A movie adaption won't help that. Why don't we adapt games that have actual plots that actually rival most movies? Where's a Metal Gear Solid adaption? COD's just going to end up a generic war movie.
Ajax

Definitely no on WWII, but possibly yes on MW. I just hope they pack it in with chliched characters, because then it would just be silly. BTW, I too want more on Metal Gear Solid. And how about No More Heroes?
ClerksFan

I think making the Modern Warfare games into movies would be great. I was actually playing MW2 the other day and paused the game to turn to a friend and say how easily and well the game could be turned into a movie. It would suck that I know exactly how the movies would end (especially the first one because that would be an AWESOME movie ending), but I'd get over it. Anyone who has played the games and doesn't think that they'd make good movies (if done properly) is an idiot.
JimD

How could making a MW2 movie be any different then most any war movie? God forbid they do the FPS view thing they did in the Doom movie.
Soap

McKidd is shit, Butler would be awesome
Voice of Reason

Butler would bloooooooooooooooowwww!!!!!
tobi,leader of the akatsuki

please don't make this film,leave at just a video game.
Madnezz344

another gay ass war movie
movieraider321

Think of it this way everyone. In a sense Modern Warfare and MW2 are actually war movies, being told from the perspective of two characters going to take down one main objective. That is similar to all the war movies, however it would be interesting because all the sub characters "Soap, Price, and Ghost" are extremely entertaining and enjoyable to watch. I think this would be a cool idea, just don't let it become a BloodRayne, Resident Evil(don't care what you say, they suck), or a Doom. I think they could probably pull this off pretty well, and I for one am excited to see where this goes.
Tom Dearsley

As long as Craig Fairbrass is in it then I'm game!
RJN

Why not make a movie based on the game? Sure there are loads of examples of how this can be done badly (anyone for Streetfighter?) but if you dont think it would work as a movie dont bloody watch it and stop bitchin about it. Is it gonna change anythin about the game? no. personally i would rather watch COD the movie than watch ANOTHER spoof movie from the wayans brothers.
SlashBeast

#29 - RJN That's a very low standard.
TJ

This would make a sick movie!!!!!! Id see it.
awesomeMAN304

What I meant when I searched this was a movie based on the missions in sayyy COD: MW or MW2. like with gaz and griggs and miller (in world at war).
Mattiecannon

yea, usually movies based off video games SUCK, but the storyline in MW1 and MW2 is pretty sweet and in my opinion the movie would definitely be worth seeing