Now, according to Variety, fans finally have their clearest indication yet of what to expect after director and co-writer Peter Berg confirmed the movie will 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, where the upcoming “Modern Warfare 4” game was also being promoted.
Peter Berg Confirms the Movie Will Follow the ‘Modern Warfare’ Storyline
Berg’s announcement settles one of the biggest questions surrounding the adaptation. While the “Call of Duty” franchise has expanded across multiple timelines and settings since its debut in 2003, the film will specifically draw from the “Modern Warfare” games rather than the series’ World War II roots or the “Black Ops” saga.
The “Modern Warfare” sub-series first launched in 2007 and became a defining chapter for the franchise by shifting the action into contemporary military conflicts.
That decision also points toward the type of story audiences can expect on screen. The “Modern Warfare” games revolve around Captain John Price and the elite Task Force 141 unit as they confront global threats, including longtime antagonist Vladimir Makarov. The latest chapter in that storyline will continue this October with the release of “Modern Warfare 4,” which centers on a conflict between North and South Korea.
The project represents the latest attempt to bring one of gaming’s biggest properties to theaters after several earlier plans failed to materialize. Activision Blizzard first explored a “Call of Duty” cinematic universe nearly a decade ago, with different filmmakers attached over the years before those efforts stalled. Momentum returned in September 2025, when Paramount Pictures and Microsoft-owned Activision announced a new partnership to produce a live-action adaptation.
The current version of the picture pairs Berg behind the camera with “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, who co-wrote the screenplay and is also producing. Paramount has scheduled the movie for release on June 30, 2028, making it the first feature film adaptation of a franchise that has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide and grown into one of the most successful video game series ever created.