Find Makarov: Operation Kingfish
Prequel short film to Modern Warfare 2, endorsed by Activision.
We Can Pretend · via Wikipedia: Find Makarov: Operation Kingfish · Fair use
Find Makarov: Operation Kingfish is a 2011 short film that serves as a prequel to *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2*. It debuted at the Call of Duty XP convention. The production was handled by We Can Pretend, with visual effects from The Junction, and received official endorsement from Activision. The story depicts the mission that led to Captain Price being captured and imprisoned, following Task Force 141 and Delta Force as they raid a Ukrainian compound. Their objective is a high-value target codenamed Kingfish, who is later identified as Vladimir Makarov.
The film opens with John "Soap" MacTavish loading a magazine while General Shepherd questions him about the operation where he lost his commanding officer, Price. In 2013, the joint force assaults a safe house in Ukraine's Karkonosze Mountains. Soap, Price, Ghost, Roach, and other operatives storm the compound, supported by Delta Force snipers Sandman and Frost and an AC-130 gunship (Spectre 6-4). After the gunship clears the way, the team enters the safe house, kills the remaining enemies, and discovers photos of Zakhaev International Airport and a Bravo Six team. Soap and Price realize the Bravo Six photo shows their own faces—meaning Kingfish is targeting them. A C4 detonator beeps, but they escape the blast.
The mission is compromised, and the squad heads to extraction while Spectre 6-4 provides cover. An RPG destroys the gunship, leaving the team vulnerable. A V-22 Osprey arrives, but an RPG blast knocks Soap down. Sandman and Roach drag him aboard as Frost and Price provide cover. Price orders the team to leave without him, but Soap refuses. Overlord commands the Osprey to take off immediately. Price is shot but continues firing until he is overwhelmed. Back in the present, Soap demands Kingfish's identity from Shepherd, who throws him a dossier with Makarov's picture, saying, "We'll get him." Soap stabs the photo with his combat knife.
The cast includes Jon Morgan as Soap, David Kinsman as Price, David Brandon George as Shepherd, Keeghan Wilson as Ghost, Ray Davids as Sandman, Dennis Allcock as Roach, and Justin Major as Frost.
The project began when the website findmakarov.com received bloody dog tags in the mail, one supposedly Shepherd's, along with a URL and the message "End the war." A countdown timer on the site pointed to March 2, 2011, coinciding with the Game Developers Conference.
- Type
- Short film
- Release year
- 2011
- Production company
- We Can Pretend
- Visual effects
- The Junction
- Endorser
- Activision
- Based on
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Lore & Background
The film originated from a personal project by staff Jeff Chan, who wanted to create a first-person perspective film inspired by Modern Warfare 2. He brought the idea to his co-workers at We Can Pretend, a digital media agency in Toronto, all of whom were Call of Duty fans. They invested in the project and produced the first non-canonical fan-made film, Find Makarov, which was well received by fans and Activision. Activision then contacted We Can Pretend and helped produce Find Makarov: Operation Kingfish.
The plot follows John 'Soap' MacTavish being questioned by General Shepherd about a mission where he lost Captain Price. In 2013, in the Karkonosze Mountains, Ukraine, Task Force 141 and Delta Force assault a safe house. After clearing the compound, Soap and Price discover pictures of Zakhaev International Airport and a Bravo Six team, realizing Kingfish is targeting them. The mission is compromised; during extraction, an RPG destroys the AC-130 Spectre 6-4. Price orders the team to leave without him, providing covering fire until he is overwhelmed and captured.
The film's release was preceded by a viral marketing campaign. The findmakarov.com website was discovered after bloody dog tags were mailed, containing the URL and the message 'End the war.' A timer counted down to March 2, 2011, leading many to believe it was a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 reveal. Activision denied involvement on February 26, calling it a hoax. On March 2, the video was uploaded to YouTube, and the website embedded it. The official video has over 8,700,000 views.
Reader's Guide
Find Makarov: Operation Kingfish holds significance as a rare example of a fan-made project that received official endorsement and production support from the game's publisher, Activision. It bridges the narrative gap between Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2, providing backstory for Captain Price's imprisonment. The film's viral marketing campaign, though initially mistaken for an official Modern Warfare 3 reveal, demonstrated the power of fan engagement and transmedia storytelling. Its success showed that fan-created content could achieve professional quality and official recognition, influencing how game companies interact with their communities.
Did You Know?
- The film was first shown at the Call of Duty XP convention.
- The original script was deemed 'way too close to the game' by Activision, requiring revisions.
- The website findmakarov.com was discovered after bloody dog tags were mailed to recipients.
- The official video on YouTube has over 8,700,000 views.
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