Activision Blizzard Sets Up Film & TV Studio

SANTA MONICA: Activision Blizzard, known for such popular video game franchises as Call of Duty, has launched a new film and TV studio devoted to creating original content based on its IP.

Former Disney executive Nick van Dyk has been tapped to co-head the division, Activision Blizzard Studios, along with a senior creative executive who will be announced soon. Activision Blizzard Studios' first production will be Skylanders Academy, an animated series based on the Skylanders game. Another upcoming initiative for Activision Blizzard Studios will be the development of a cinematic universe based on the Call of Duty franchise. Activision Blizzard Studios envisions a series of Call of Duty feature films as well as the possibility of TV adaptations.

Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision Blizzard, commented: "Activision Blizzard is home to some of the most successful entertainment franchises in history, across any medium. With the launch of Activision Blizzard Studios, our engaged fans can now watch the games they love come to life across film and television. Activision Blizzard Studios is yet another way we're celebrating our players and fans, and we expect that our film and television productions will entertain and delight whole new audiences, as well. I'm excited that Nick and his team will be leading this important new growth opportunity for Activision Blizzard."

Kotick added, "We intend to approach film and television development with the same unwavering commitment to excellence we are known for in game development."

Before joining Activision Blizzard last year, van Dyk spent nine years at Disney, serving as senior VP of corporate strategy. Prior to that, van Dyk was part of Artisan Entertainment's senior management team.

"Activision Blizzard Studios has the unique advantage of starting with a library of world-class intellectual property that includes some of the largest franchises which have not yet been developed in film and television," said van Dyk. "Our library spans more than 30 years of global entertainment culture and, in the last 12 months alone, fans of Activision Blizzard properties have played and watched our games online for more than 13 billion hours. This gives us a huge, passionate and deeply engaged audience that is hungry for more great content built from the universes they already know and love—and which are extremely broad in their appeal."

Van Dyk added: "Activision Blizzard Studios is not just an exciting new business for our company, it is a synergistic complement to our core business. Our movies and shows will benefit from the remarkable IP created in our games and will further increase the awareness of, engagement with and passion for our franchises."