A Call of Duty movie should only be directed by one person

Paramount is reportedly in talks to acquire the rights to make a Call of Duty movie – and, if it happens, there’s one director that’s perfect for the job.

Activision announced a Call of Duty cinematic universe back in 2015, with its first movie eyed for the late 2010s. That never happened, with director Stefano Solluma saying in 2020 that films “were no longer a priority” for the developer.

Things may be changed behind the scenes. According to a Puck newsletter, Paramount is in negotiations for the Call of Duty film rights. “No talent is attached yet… it’s said to be a priority for Ellison and his studio chiefs, Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein,” it reads.

Since the news made it to social media, loads of posts are saying Michael Bay should direct it (which seems unlikely, but he is making a Skibidi Toilet movie, so who knows?). However, there’s another filmmaker who’s already expressed interest in such a project.

Call of Duty movie would be perfect for Extraction director

Activision/Netflix

Sam Hagrave, the director behind both Extraction movies on Netflix, should direct a Call of Duty movie.

Here’s why: he’s an up-and-coming director, which is a more probable choice for a Call of Duty film than someone of Bay’s stature; both Extraction movies feature extraordinary, tactical gunplay and set-pieces within locations that could be CoD maps; and, this part is important, he’s already said he’d consider it.

In 2023, Dexerto spoke to Hargrave and mentioned how Extraction 2 felt like being dropped into Verdansk, whether it’s snipers firing from choppers, firefights on rooftops, or campers getting blown to pieces at the top of elevators.

“I’m actually loosely familiar with that IP, so it wasn’t a huge inspiration for me,” he admitted.

“Now, I can’t speak for the stunt team that helped design a lot of that stuff, or for Joe Russo when writing it – perhaps that was a huge inspiration, I don’t know.”

So, we asked him if he’d want to make a Warzone movie. “Anytime an IP exists that there’s a huge fan base for and has a cinematic quality – like a Warzone-type thing – I think there’s always potential there,” he said.

“You just have to find… what’s the heart? What’s the emotional hook that pulls people in and makes them want to engage for a 90-minute feature?”

That’s the kind of thinking that Call of Duty fans should be excited about. After all, some of the franchise’s best stories have big, emotional moments; Shepard’s betrayal in Modern Warfare 2, Soap’s fate in Modern Warfare 3, and Infinite Warfare has one of the most underrated, tear-jerking campaigns.

Even if Hargrave isn’t au fait with every game in the series, that’s okay: that can be learned. What’s more important is his eye for action – which is phenomenal – and his priorities as a director. Let’s keep our fingers crossed… and stay frosty.

In the meantime, find out what we know about Extraction 3, read our list of the best video game movies, and check out our ranking of the best action movies of all time.