Activision Rejected Steven Spielberg’s Call of Duty Movie Pitch Over Control

Few ideas in Hollywood sound as exciting on paper as a Call of Duty movie helmed by Steven Spielberg. The director, whose films like Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers heavily inspired the tone and style of the series, reportedly pitched his vision to Activision alongside Universal’s Jimmy Horowitz. For fans of both cinema and gaming, this sounded like a dream project – one of the greatest storytellers of modern times bringing his war drama expertise to one of the biggest gaming franchises in history.

Yet, as revealed by Puck News, Activision wasn’t convinced.

The sticking point wasn’t Spielberg’s creativity, but rather the business side of things. Spielberg’s package included what industry insiders call a “Spielberg deal”: full creative control, ownership of the final cut, and a financial structure tilted heavily toward the director’s favor. For Activision, a company that has long guarded its intellectual property with an iron grip, this was simply too much to give away. Instead of surrendering control – even to a legend like Spielberg – they opted for a safer route.

Ultimately, the publisher chose David Ellison’s pitch, which ensured Activision could remain in the driver’s seat when it came to marketing, production, and franchise-building. The result? The project is now moving forward at Paramount, with no director officially attached yet. This decision highlights how Hollywood studios and game publishers often wrestle for dominance when adapting billion-dollar franchises. Spielberg’s pedigree might have guaranteed critical acclaim, but Activision clearly had its eyes on maintaining long-term control over what could become an interconnected cinematic universe spanning movies and TV shows.

The timing is notable. The Call of Duty series remains a cultural juggernaut, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launching November 14 across all major platforms. Developed primarily by Treyarch with Raven Software assisting on campaign duties, the game is hyped to shake up established formulas, especially as it competes directly against EA’s highly anticipated Battlefield 6. Against this backdrop, the film could serve not just as entertainment, but also as another revenue stream and cultural anchor point for Microsoft-owned Activision.

Fans remain split. Some see the rejection of Spielberg as a colossal missed opportunity, a chance to elevate video game movies beyond their usual reputation. Others argue that Activision’s decision reflects cold but shrewd business sense – keeping control to ensure their franchise grows on their terms, not a director’s vision. Whatever side you take, one thing is certain: the world of Call of Duty is about to expand far beyond consoles, and its first cinematic mission is officially locked and loaded.