Paramount Pictures is finally making a live-action Call of Duty movie. Director Peter Berg‘s comments suggest the movie will bypass an issue that has plagued so many video game adaptations.
While speaking with ComicBook.com, Berg emphasized that Call of Duty will be a war movie featuring “complicated humans.” Berg will focus on the game’s themes and undertones while capturing the spirit of the universe. “These are not—and no disrespect—cartoon characters or comic books,” Berg added.
Berg clearly doesn’t see his Call of Duty movie as a shot-for-shot adaptation of a video game. While that might cause some backlash, it’s ultimately the right decision for the movie.
Peter Berg is right to make his own Call of Duty movie and avoid the video game trap
Call of Duty is a massive franchise with a dedicated and loyal fanbase. Some of these fans will expect to see familiar characters, missions, and maps from the game in the movie. However, many video game movies have gotten into trouble when they remain too faithful to the game and don’t take liberties to craft a better movie.
Warcraft and Assassin’s Creed are examples of when staying faithful to the material became the film’s biggest detriment. These two adaptations tried to stuff so much gaming lore into their stories that they forgot their main objective—to create a compelling film.
Zach Cregger‘s Resident Evil created a new blueprint that video game adaptations should follow. Cregger told his own unique story within the Resident Evil universe while honoring the spirit of the games. Cregger used some familiar terminology, but his Resident Evil felt like its own story. Cregger’s decision paid off, as Resident Evil has grossed $384 million worldwide.
Berg might not have any previous ties to Call of Duty, but he has experience with war movies, including Lone Survivor and The Mosquito Bowl. Berg understands how to portray both the physical challenges of war and its psychological consequences. That is what Berg should be focusing on. .
At the end of the day, Call of Duty is an action franchise that should play well on a big screen. Berg won’t be able to make everyone happy. That comes with the territory of adapting a beloved video game. But as long as the director focuses on making a great movie first, Call of Duty has a better chance of succeeding.
