Possibility of an Overwatch movie is something Activision "would like very much" to explore
An Overwatch film is something Activision seems interested in developing.
Activision could develop a Overwatch movie at some point in the future, as it's something the firm would be very interested in exploring.
According to the company's head of Consumer Products Group, Tim Kilpin, the prospect is something Activision "would like very much."
Kilpin was once head of franchise management at Disney, and had a hand in managing Pixar's marketing appeal.
A Call of Duty film is in development at present, and MCV broached the subject with Kilpin of whether an animated Overwatch film was possible - once the aforementioned project was completed.
"We're a platform and a portfolio, these franchises exist across multiple platforms," he told MCV. "It's not just the game as a driver, but it's linear content [movies and TV] as a way to expand the audience and expand the opportunity and then esports [too].
"Pull all that together and you're talking about franchises that are frankly like no other."
Kilpin admits bringing video game franchises to a "new form factor," such as films will always be a risk, as Activision is fully aware. Regarding the Call of Duty film, Kilpin said if "script and the story isn't right we won't do it."
"It's not one of those situations where someone is saying 'I don't care just get it made!' that's not what's happening," he said. "We do think that if it's done well it has the opportunity to expand the base audience, beyond the traditional foundation that the game appeals to.”
Back in 2013, a film based on Call of Duty seemed off the table, going by a New York Times article on Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. At the time, Kotick was of the opinion movies based on video games 'rarely please devoted fans,' and could ultimately taint a brand. That said, in 2012 the World of Warcraft film was already in the works and a new writer had been hired.
In 2014, there were rumblings of Activision “tentatively planning” to open a studio to produce both movies and TV shows based on its properties. This came to fruition the following year when Activision Blizzard Studios was announced with Disney executive Nick van Dyk as co-president. Alongside the announcement was new of the Call of Duty franchise in development for mediums outside video games.
The first effort from the studio came in the form of a Skylanders television series called Skylanders Academy which airs on Netflix. Its third season is set to air in fall 2018.
So, does this mean an Overwatch film or TV series could be developed in the near future? Possibly. Considering how well-received the animated shorts are with fans, an Overwatch film in a similar vein could be rather great.