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Oh No, Call of Duty is Headed to the Big Screen, Too?

by Alex Billington
May 11, 2009

Not another video game movie! And especially not an adaptation of one of the greatest video game franchises ever?! No major confirmation yet, but the Hollywood Reporter is hinting at the possibility. In a recent article about Activision's Guitar Hero being turned into a TV show were a few sentences about Call of Duty. "Discussions are under way to turn the World of Warcraft and Call of Duty video games into movies." That's all that was really side, with an insider apparently confirming that "they are being talked about for the big screen." We've known about that World of Warcraft movie for a while, but Call of Duty?

I think I need to echo the same sentiments as everyone else - didn't we see Saving Private Ryan or "Band of Brothers"? Is there really a need to adapt this game when we've already got great war movies? Originally, Call of Duty was just a great series of games based off of real life missions and events from World War II. However, the fourth sequel, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, was set in modern times and involved an Ultranationalist movement in Russia in the "near future." I'm guessing that Hollywood producers are more interested in developing an adaptation of that game set in modern times than any of the WWII games.

So here's the thing - I could see them pulling this off (even though it's unlikely). What I mean is that, if they find a great writer and director (obviously this is the most important part), and turn into a hyper-stylized kinetic action movie that transcends being either a) another great WWII movie or b) yet another boring modern day war movie, then it could actually be pretty good. Maybe that's just because I'm an optimist and I look at the positive side of everything, but either way, maybe we should give them a chance instead of instantly looking at this so negatively. I just really hope they don't turn it into Saving Private Ryan 2.

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Mikeislegend

Your kidding me, right?
Kaiser

Nooooooo!!!
http://myspace.com/erikthecoolkid erik

wtf,is the point.the game is played out like a movie.
Ramon M.

In all likely hood this just going to be an action modern day movie with a few nods to the game and just have the name call of duty. nothing more than what probably should be a direct to dvd movie.
teyhtr

stupid stupid stupid idea... and I'm a very open-minded guy who enjoys countless reboots and remakes.
Smiffy1

Why call it Call of Duty? I mean really what's the point? If you want to make a WWII or modern day warfare movie then go for it, buy why call it Call of Duty? Christ movie studios are getting so lazy they cannot even be arsed to just make a war movie and think of a name.
d1rEct

I read a script based on the game, it wasn't very good though.
Fuelbot

#6 - Agree. Call Of Duty works specifically because it's a video game. It's the immersive nature of gameplay you won't get with watching a movie. It'd be like making a GTA movie which, for all intents and purposes, you may as well call Crank 2.
michael

>facepalm<
Tim

I agree with #3. The reason why alot of games are so good these days is that they look like movies. CGI has gotten so realistic. I'm optimistic too but I can't see a movie off this.
bozoconnors

As a religious CoD4:MW player... hmmm... not so sure this is a good idea. Let's get back to work on that Warcraft movie shall we? There's yer cash cow right there!
Bryanmakeup

I know they're looking at a live action WOW film but anyone who has seen the cut scenes from the game will agree they are amazing. I would like to see a whole film in that style. thoughts...
Curtis G

I hate Activisions CEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Janny

COD4 played out like a movie yes... but it was a great game/experience because the player was in control of the character would you have as good a time watching someone else play it in 3rd person?
Dan W

This is not a good idea. If it is based on modern warfare than it could possibly be better than if they used any of the other settings since WWII movies are a plenty. But it will still not be good
Cody

Ugh butchering another game...but I mean Cod4 possibly the most intense single player ive ever played...I mean the story is perfect for a movie but are you fucking kidding me? like someone said the reason it was intense was because you were in control you would turn your view on someone getting blown away in front of you. Just gold diggin at its best. Funny this is up, first gameplay footage to Cod 6 MW 2 just came out and it looks like possibly the best FPS in history and that's not exaggerating
Chris H

Considering the half-assed attempt with call of duty world at war (basically a mod of modern warfare), and the impressive trailer we just saw for modern warfare 2... I think it's safe to say they're focusing a lot of their efforts on the modern war aspect, which will be the premise of the possible movie. That said, the only way I see this movie playing out is if the movie follows one guy's adventures in various tactical situations. If they have a large number of characters (as many COD battles involve massive assaults and large scale operations), it'll look like a G.I. Joe movie... maybe a G.I. Joe movie we all should have gotten instead of what they're giving us this summer.
Darunia

Call of Duty is perfect if you think about it as a Tom Clancy type of action movie. It has so much market appeal, get somebody of the likes of Michael Bay and make a summer blockbuster action movie, no ifs or buts, you can't go wrong with this.
Fisherr

The last thing i want is a movie for this epic game.Pretty excited about the sequel.
http://Firstshowing.net The_Phantom

If studios are so eagert to make a video game into a movie they should make, "Red Dead Revolver"
Ajax

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh... No.
Rigo

mine as well make a rainbow 6 while were at it... lol
Cody

I could see them pull it off IF, and ONLY IF, they based it on SAS Captain Price and/or SSgt Griggs. Their roles in CoD4:MW is what held the campaign together. If they make it a WWII movie, it will be disastrous. I'm sick of WWII movies, and those made me sick of WWII games. And what's this about boring modern day war movies? I watched "The Hurt Locker" on your recommendation, Alex, and LOVED IT!
http://www.transformerslive.blogspot.com cat

games never tranlate well. im a huge COD fan but have my doubts about this.
http://www.transformerslive.blogspot.com cat

*translate
Cheater

I for one am pretty excited about this movie I think they could pull it off if they stick with a modern warfare idea and have peter jackson or christopher nolan direct it and stick as closely to the game as zach snyder did with watchmen(and give it a little room to expand on itself)
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#23 - Well, The Hurt Locker is the ONE exception, but I meant that as an over-generalization of most modern war movies... That one is just a very rare and glorious anomaly.
http://www.accounts.com/ wow accounts

You know what movie comes to my mind? That Behind Enemy Lines - Colombia flick that was a direct to DVD release. Lots of explosion and cheesy acting and a supposed story that happened in real life. I think a good director / producer can get away with a World of Warcraft movie (provided that they don't try to cover the whole lore in just 2 hours), but a Call of Duty movie? I seriously doubt it. Activision really needs to come up with more creative ways of milking their franchises.
*

#6 Because it's a significant franchise. Many people will go see it just for the name alone.
Smiffy1

#29 Which is a real crying shame. RIP new ideas, may it rest in peace.
thejugfather

i think this could actually work if they can figure out a way for everyone in the audience to be a specific character in the movie and everyone has controllers so they can control the movie like a video game.......OH WAIT A MINUTE......you can already do that on your game console so this is really just a stupid idea!
SlashBeast

One of the reasons video game movies have ALL sucked is because they're choosing the wrong games to adapt into movies. Making a movie of a video game robs it of its essential purpose. As a video game, Call of Duty is an incredibly immersive experience into a time of war. Translated into a movie, it has NO significance. It's just going to end up as another war movie to be forgotten.
Hans

I'm a big supporter of game based movies, but too bad we still all need to get to see the first good one. This one is not going to be it. Moviestudio's get this through your thick skulls: YOU NEED A GAME WITH A GREAT STORYLINE to even think about turning it in to a movie. Call of Duty has no storyline. Why don;t you all turn your attention to great games like Half-Life, Bioshock and such. Spend some money, get a terrific director and an even better cast and be the first in history to make a great movie adaptation of a game.
Soonerfan462

IMHO....I think a game like COD would be cool, IF, they could follow it in a game aspect, then at the end of the movie, the camera pans back out of a TV set and you see a couple kids put down the gaming controlers as they get called to dinner (or whatever) and finish that way....otherwise a war movie is a war movie.