Call of Duty movie taps Yellowstone creator to write

Paramount Pictures and Activision officially announced today that Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg will co-write and produce a live-action Call of Duty movie, with Berg directing the adaptation of one of gaming's most successful franchises.gizmodo+2

The announcement comes as a surprise to the industry, occurring just days after reports emerged that Sheridan, creator of the hit series Yellowstone, had signed a billion-dollar deal to leave Paramount for NBCUniversal starting in 2029. However, his current Paramount contract runs through 2028, keeping him available for this high-profile project.deadline+2

Proven Collaborators Take on Gaming Giant

Berg and Sheridan bring extensive experience in military and action storytelling to the project. Berg, known for directing Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor, and Deepwater Horizon, has demonstrated expertise in depicting warfare and heroism on screen. Sheridan, beyond his television empire including Yellowstone and its spinoffs, wrote the acclaimed action thrillers Sicario and its sequel.gamefragger+2

The duo previously collaborated on Hell or High Water, which received four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Screenplay, and Wind River. David Glasser from 101 Studios will join as producer.deadline+2

Franchise Dominance Meets Hollywood Ambition

Call of Duty has maintained its position as the number-one best-selling video game series in the United States for 16 consecutive years, with over 500 million copies sold worldwide across its various iterations. The announcement strategically coincides with the upcoming November 14 launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.paramount+3

According to Deadline, Paramount had been considering these filmmakers since summer, though Sheridan was initially uncertain about taking on writing duties alongside producing. The project aims to "thrill its massive global fan base by delivering on the hallmarks of what fans love about the iconic series, while boldly expanding the franchise to entirely new audiences," according to the companies' joint statement.deadline+2

The announcement follows Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance and comes amid the company implementing 1,000 layoffs this week as part of planned workforce reductions.usnews+1