Taylor Sheridan has built a reputation for crafting gritty, gun-slinging tales across Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and more. So it's no surprise that he's now taking on one of the biggest video game franchises in history. The Call of Duty movie, written by Sheridan and directed by Peter Berg, is in development, and two rising stars are already eager to enlist.
At the Newport Beach Film Festival, Ray Nicholson (Smile 2) and Inde Navarrette (Obsession) spoke exclusively to Collider about their hopes to join the project. Nicholson, who previously worked with Berg on the upcoming film Mosquito Day, didn't hold back his enthusiasm. He admitted that he's already preparing for the role, even though he's not sure he fits the typical casting mold.
"I mean, that would be amazing. I'm pretty sure that they want all Brits, and I have the worst British accent of all time. So I'm working with a dialect coach secretly, 24/7," Nicholson joked. "But it would be an honor to work with Peter again. Obviously, Call of Duty is really cool IP, and I think the fact that the film industry is getting into the video game space is really cool. And I hope that opens a lot of things up."
Nicholson also praised Berg's directing style, calling him one of the most authentic people he's met in Hollywood. "He's the most authentic human being I've ever met in my life," Nicholson said. "You are going to meet Peter Berg where he is at. He is not going to capitulate to you." He added that Berg's honesty made the experience particularly rewarding, noting that "he does this amazing action stuff, but he has so much heart."
Navarrette, who was recently cast as Rogue in the upcoming X-Men reboot, was even more direct about her interest. A self-proclaimed fan and former streamer, she said it wouldn't take much to get her on board. When asked what it would take, she replied, "Nothing. It's a phone call. It's a text. If they call me, they're like, 'There's a car outside. You gotta go.' Definitely. I'm a big fan. I'm really excited to see what they do. As a fan, I would be excited. I'm a big fan. Yeah. Very excited."
The Call of Duty franchise has sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide, spanning conflicts from World War II to futuristic warfare. With Sheridan's experience in military and crime thrillers, and Berg's work on films like Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon, the adaptation is in capable hands. The project is still in early development, with casting and release details yet to be announced.
For fans of Sheridan's other work, like the ratings success of Marshals, this movie is another exciting addition to his growing universe. And if Nicholson and Navarrette get their way, they'll be right in the middle of the action.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Call of Duty movie as they come.
