Paramount, Activision Strike Deal for Call of Duty Live-Action Film

Paramount Pictures and Activision said Tuesday they have reached a deal for Paramount to develop, produce and distribute a live action feature film based on the Call of Duty video game franchise, a long‑running series that has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. The companies described the project as an effort to deliver the franchise’s signature large‑scale action to movie audiences while broadening its reach.

David Ellison, chairman and chief executive of Paramount, called the agreement a “dream come true” in a joint statement and said the studio will approach the film with the same discipline that guided its recent blockbusters. Rob Kostich, president of Activision, said the publisher found “a fantastic partner” in Paramount and that the companies aim to translate Call of Duty’s “visceral, breathtaking action” to the big screen. No release date, director or cast has been announced.

The deal caps months of industry maneuvering. Paramount had been reported to be negotiating for rights earlier this year, and multiple reports said the studio was a priority for its new leadership after a recent merger and a push to add lucrative intellectual property. Some accounts also...