Sony's Big Play: 'Battlefield' & 'Call of Duty' Rivals Fuel Video Game Movie Wars

Michael B. Jordan has firmly established himself as a prominent figure in Hollywood, transitioning from a rising star to a household name within the last decade. His recent filmography includes several major projects that have garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, solidifying his status as a leading actor.

In 2025, Jordan starred in "Sinners," the vampire horror sensation from writer/director Ryan Coogler, delivering a dual performance as Smoke and Stack that earned him his first Academy Award. Fans widely anticipate this will not be his only Oscar win. His impressive resume also features his roles in "Black Panther" and its sequel, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." While a third "Black Panther" film is slated for 2028, Jordan's involvement remains unconfirmed.

Looking ahead, Jordan has a robust slate of exciting projects. He is set to star in, direct, and produce a reimagining of "The Thomas Crown Affair" for Amazon MGM Studios, an epic heist thriller launching on March 5, 2027. Following this, he will portray Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs opposite Austin Butler’s James “Sonny” Crockett in Universal’s "Miami Vice ’85," a reboot expected in theaters in 2028. Jordan's connection to video game adaptations is also notable, having previously starred as Navy SEAL John Clark in "Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse" for Amazon and currently developing an adaptation of "Rainbow Six."

Among his most anticipated upcoming ventures is a big-screen adaptation of the popular "Battlefield" video game franchise. This project has recently made significant strides, with Sony Pictures officially circling to acquire the distribution rights after a competitive multi-studio bidding war. Christopher McQuarrie, known for his work on the "Mission: Impossible" series, is attached to write, direct, and produce the "Battlefield" feature. Jordan is confirmed as a producer and is also expected to star in the film, though his acting role is contingent on various factors. Additional producers include Jesse Stern from Electronic Arts, Carter Swan of Emerald Neon, Roy Lee and Miri Yoon from Vertigo, and Elizabeth Raposo, president of Outlier Society.

The "Battlefield" video game franchise, developed by Electronic Arts, commenced in 2002 with the World War II-themed "Battlefield 1942." The series is renowned for its large-scale, online multiplayer battles across diverse military forces. Over two decades, it has explored historical events, alternate histories, and future conflicts. Its 18th installment, "Battlefield 6," released last year (2024) and set between 2027 and 2028, focused on a conflict between a fractured NATO and a private military company. "Battlefield 6" achieved significant success, becoming the bestselling first-person shooter of the year and in the franchise's history, notably eclipsing Activision’s "Call of Duty."

The cinematic adaptation of "Battlefield" is emerging amidst a competitive landscape, as Paramount is simultaneously developing a "Call of Duty" movie. This rival film, penned by Taylor Sheridan (creator of "Yellowstone" and writer of "Sicario") and directed by Peter Berg, is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 30, 2028. Paramount showcased the long-awaited "Call of Duty" film adaptation at its CinemaCon presentation earlier this month, setting up a potential showdown between the two video game movie franchises in the same year.

Christopher McQuarrie's involvement in "Battlefield" marks his next major undertaking after seemingly concluding Tom Cruise’s tenure as Ethan Hunt in the "Mission: Impossible" movie franchise with "The Final Reckoning," which was released last year (2024). Beyond "Battlefield," McQuarrie is also set to direct Arnold Schwarzenegger in a third "Conan the Barbarian" movie, titled "King Conan," and is collaborating with Cruise on an upcoming space-shot movie directed by Doug Liman.