Hollywood joins Call of Duty: Finest Hour
by Kit

Friday, October 8 2004

Talent from 24 and AC/DC will lend voice talents.

Hollywood and rock music will join the ranks of World War II with actor Dennis Haysbert, of the hit television drama "24," and Brian Johnson, lead singer of the legendary rock band AC/DC, signing on for key voice talent roles in Activision, gritty, epic first-person war action-thriller Call of Duty: Finest Hour.

Additionally, veteran writer/ producer Michael Schiffer will once again provide his screenwriting stamp with a cinematic and intense script. Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino returns to score the console version of the game.

Developed by Spark, Call of Duty: Finest Hour will deploy this fall for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCub and carries a "T" ("Teen" - Blood, Violence) rating by the ESRB.

"Working with Dennis, Brian, Michael Schiffer and Michael Giacchino has been a truly inspired collaboration. Each brought his own valued expertise to the project, contributing in such differing ways to the depth of realism and emotion of Finest Hour's non-stop, gripping action," said Scott Langteau, producer and COO, of developer Spark Unlimited.

Fans will have no trouble identifying the voice of Golden Globe nominated Dennis Haysbert as the narrator in Call of Duty: Finest Hour. The addition of the narrator brings a whole new continuity to Finest Hour. Currently starring in the television series 24, Haysbert landed roles in blockbuster movies Absolute Power, Heat and Major League.

Vocalist Brian Johnson brings his signature voice, honed over the years as the front man for the famed legendary rock band AC/DC. Johnson's character plays the leading role during the harrowing British campaign in Finest Hour, for which Johnson carries an important personal connection. His father served as a Sergeant Major of the British Army's Durham Light Infantry, and Johnson brought much of his father's experience as a "Desert Rat" to his character in the game.

Michael Schiffer joined the Call of Duty team last year with the award-winning PC game. Now he is working closely with the Finest Hour producers to evoke the emotional drama of the chaos of battle. Schiffer's screenwriting credits include "Crimson Tide," "Colors," "Lean on Me," The Four Feathers" and "The Peacemaker." His producing credits also include "Very Bad Things," "Lean on Me" and "Le Divorce." Most recently he's been tapped to write the new military action thriller "First Class."

Game fans need no introduction to Michael Giacchino. A longtime gamer whose award-winning game scores have resulted in numerous accolades, Giacchino has moved on to score the popular television series "Alias," and the new series "Lost," plus Pixar Animation Studio's upcoming animated feature film "The Incredibles." For the Call of Duty PC game, Giacchino created a compelling and gripping soundtrack, this time he has dug even deeper by deploying an 80 person orchestra and 50 person choir to bring out the emotions and conviction of Finest Hour.

--- Kit