Overview

• Puck News reports Steven Spielberg and Amblin, working with Universal’s Jimmy Horowitz, pitched a version that sought top‑of‑market terms, final cut, and full control over production and marketing.
• Sources told Puck the proposed terms "spooked" Microsoft‑owned Activision, which chose David Ellison’s Paramount–Skydance proposal that offered the publisher more input.
• Paramount announced the live‑action Call of Duty film on September 2 with optional TV expansion, and no writer, director, cast, or release timeline has been set.
• Paramount CEO David Ellison pledged a disciplined, faithful adaptation in this week’s statements, while Activision president Rob Kostich praised Paramount as a strong partner.
• Spielberg’s history with military shooters and game adaptations explains his interest, but no party has publicly confirmed details of the rejected pitch beyond Puck’s sourced reporting.