Some fans might have expected the upcoming Call of Duty live-action movie to adapt the military thriller, espionage-driven Black Ops series. Others may have preferred a return to the more dramatic World War 2 settings of earlier entries. But perhaps, rather unsurprisingly, fans of Captain Price and Task Force 141 will be in for a treat. Paramount Pictures has announced that the film will officially be set in the Modern Warfare universe.
The reveal came during the ‘Call of Duty in Culture’ panel at Fanatics Fest in New York City, as reported by Variety. Call of Duty movie director and co-writer Peter Berg confirmed that the live-action adaptation will take place within the Modern Warfare universe. He stopped short of sharing story details, but this marks the first major update since Paramount revealed the project in September 2025.
Some gaming fans are showing caution on social media after how Paramount handled the Halo TV series, but there’s one major silver lining. The Call of Duty live-action adaptation screenplay is being written by Taylor Sheridan — the acclaimed writer behind Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River. Many see his experience making grounded military and crime thrillers as making him a great fit for adapting gaming’s biggest military shooter franchise.
Plot details for the movie remain under wraps. However, the in-game Modern Warfare saga follows Task Force 141, an elite unit led by Captain John Price that battles high-stakes terrorist and ultranationalist threats worldwide. This current series serves as a reboot of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare trilogy released between 2007 and 2011.
The announcement also comes as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 prepares to launch on October 23. The new game is set during North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, in which players control rookie Private Park. But as the conflict spreads beyond the peninsula, Captain Price is forced to go rogue as well. He must hunt a weapon capable of reshaping the global balance of power while also enacting a personal revenge.
All things considered, this makes the movie’s Modern Warfare setting an obvious fit for the franchise’s current direction. Now fans can only hope Paramount delivers a stronger adaptation of Price and the gang than the poorly-received sci-fi adventure.
