Activision Reportedly Rejected Steven Spielberg’s Call of Duty Movie

A Call of Duty movie is officially in production by Paramount, but few details are available. However, a film directed by Steven Spielberg might have been possible, but Activision reportedly turned it down.

Activision announced a “cinematic universe based on the Call of Duty franchise” in 2015. But nothing materialized, and by 2020, Stefano Sollima – hired to direct the first film – stated: “Call of Duty movies were no longer a priority for Activision”.

Though unclear when exactly, Matthew Belloni of Puck News (via Dexerto), who accurately broke the Paramount deal before its announcement, reports Spielberg unsuccessfully pitched a Call of Duty film to Activision.

Spielberg isn’t new to gaming. Notably, he created the Medal of Honor franchise and directed Ready Player One.

Per three sources cited by Belloni, the Saving Private Ryan director partnered with Universal to present the Call of Duty film to Activision. However, Spielberg’s terms demanded “cutting-edge economics, final cut, and total control over production and marketing”.

Activision was allegedly “spooked” by this and instead accepted a proposal from Paramount CEO David Ellison.