Alan Ritchson, widely recognized for his portrayal of Jack Reacher, has expressed his enthusiasm for the Call of Duty franchise, stating it is his favorite video game series. He also indicated a willingness to participate in the forthcoming Call of Duty film adaptation, provided the script aligns with his vision.
Ritchson shared his thoughts on video game movies during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, acknowledging that "so few work" and that adaptations can be "scary a little bit." He pointed to titles like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Five Nights at Freddy's, and Minecraft as successful examples, attributing their success to a focus on fun and self-awareness, or being primarily made "for kids first." He suggested that adaptations which "take themselves too seriously" tend to falter, emphasizing the need for a project to "know what it is and it has to be ready to have a good time."
When directly asked about a potential role in the Call of Duty movie, Ritchson stated, "I do love Call of Duty, man... if the story is right." He further advocated for the inclusion of the popular Zombies mode in the film, which he believes is a standout element of the game series. While the Call of Duty movie is reportedly set within the Modern Warfare universe, which typically doesn't heavily feature Zombies, Ritchson's enthusiasm suggests a creative avenue for the filmmakers.
The Call of Duty film is slated to be directed by Peter Berg, with Taylor Sheridan attached as the writer, and Paramount producing. Casting for the movie has not yet been confirmed. Meanwhile, the next installment in the game series, Modern Warfare 4, is scheduled for release this October, preceded by a multiplayer beta in August.