Would a big screen adaptation of the Call of Duty franchise even remotely surprise you? Didn't think so. But if you want inconclusive evidence that a Call of Duty film might be happening, here are a few scraps.
Take this message from Infinity Ward "creative strategist" Robert Bowling, posted to his well-followed Twitter account earlier today: "First round of meetings in Paris wrapped. Grabbing lunch with Xavier Gens, director of the Hitman film while in town. Talking game films." Sure, Bowling and Gens may merely be enjoying a social call. Or maybe they're talking about turning the narrative of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series into a feature film.
Parent company Activision just recently filed for new trademarks related to the Call of Duty franchise—as spotted by Trademork—protecting the mark against "Pre-recorded movies featuring comedy, drama, action, adventure, music, theatrical performances and/or animation." Honestly, not making Call of Duty into a film, direct to DVD animated feature, or CGI something would be foolishly leaving money on the table.
And it may be reflective of a larger trend at Activision, who also recently filed similar trademarks for Guitar Hero and Singularity. The latter we can understand, as it's story driven sci-fi fodder. But Guitar Hero? Certainly no one would think that was an idea worth doing.
FourZeroTwo [Twitter]