Activision Blizzard Opening Film Studio

Further blending the line between Call of Duty cinematics and movies, Activision Blizzard has announced the creation of their own film studio. The video-game titan will be producing TV shows and movies based on their video game franchises.

Nick van Dyk, a former Disney executive, has been hired to co-head the studio. And the first production will be a TV show called Skylanders Academy, based on the game series Skylanders. A pilot episode is expected to air sometime Q2 2016.

But don't expect the new studio to focus solely on shows designed for younger audiences. Call of Duty is likely slated for film productions, a television series, or both. And I won't be surprised if World of Warcraft—or Warcraft—ends up as a Saturday morning cartoon.

Video games and film haven't had the best track record (anyone remember the Doom movie?). But that may finally be changing, starting with Activision Blizzard and Legendary Pictures film Warcraft.

Chief Executive of Activision Blizzard Bobby Kotick stated, “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."

The news arrives just after Activision Blizzard acquired King Digital Entertainment, expanding their influence in the mobile realm. And now that the conglomerate firmly grips the reigns of film and TV show adaptations of its  IP's it aims to solidify itself as a multimedia entertainment business.

While the Warcraft movie is not part of the newly founded studio, it felt appropriate to include below: