Paramount in talks to acquire Call of Duty film rights from Microsoft

Paramount Pictures is in talks to acquire the film rights to the Call of Duty video game franchise, a move reported this week that studio executives are treating as a priority as they seek new blockbuster properties. According to Puck, Paramount is negotiating with Microsoft, which now owns Activision Blizzard, for the rights and plans a live action feature, though no writers, directors or actors are currently attached.

Studio chiefs David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein have reportedly pushed the idea to the top of the slate after recent corporate changes at Paramount and a string of high-profile deals. Insiders told Puck that the effort follows Paramount's commercial success with the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, which have combined to gross more than 1.2 billion dollars worldwide, and reflects a broader industry push to turn major game franchises into theatrical and streaming projects.

Call of Duty, first released in 2003, is one of the best-selling video game franchises, with more than 500 million copies sold across more than 30 entries, including World at War, Modern Warfare and Black Ops. That depth of material gives filmmakers multiple potential narrative starting...