Veteran voice actor Nolan North has opened up about his hopes to reprise Dr. Edward Richtofen, the beloved character from Call of Duty’s Black Ops Zombies mode, while acknowledging that any return would likely be years away rather than imminent.
Speaking at Gamergy in Puerto Rico, North addressed questions about his future within Activision’s flagship franchise and revealed that he believes 2027’s Call of Duty title may be developed by Sledgehammer Games. Given the studio’s history with Black Ops entries, a new installment featuring Richtofen might not arrive until 2028 at the earliest—though North was careful to frame this as speculation rather than insider knowledge.
A Long-Standing Character With an Uncertain Future
North first brought Dr. Edward Richtofen to life in 2008’s World at War and has reprised the role numerous times across subsequent Treyarch titles, cementing the character as a cornerstone of the popular Zombies mode. The character’s sprawling narrative has taken countless twists and turns over more than a decade, earning him a devoted fanbase.
“I always like when they leave things open for the next one. I know that Infinity Ward and I think Sledgehammer has the next two before there is another Black Ops. I just don’t want it to be the end of Richtofen, and I don’t think it is,” North said.
“I always like when they leave things open for the next one. I know that Infinity Ward and I think Sledgehammer has the next two before there is another Black Ops. I just don’t want it to be the end of Richtofen, and I don’t think it is.”
Nolan North
North was quick to clarify that he does not have confirmed knowledge about whether Richtofen’s story will continue beyond his own hopes and beliefs. He asked fans not to read too much into the remarks, but emphasized that the character remains one of his favorites to voice throughout his career.
A Career Defined by Iconic Roles
The actor reflected on the joy of working with longtime collaborators across some of gaming’s most iconic franchises. “It’s been such a pleasure getting to work with my friends for so long, just like Uncharted was,” he said, drawing a parallel between his time voicing Richtofen and Nathan Drake in Naughty Dog’s adventure series.
On the subject of Uncharted specifically, North expressed hope that he might return to play Nathan Drake once more. Rumors are currently swirling that Naughty Dog is working on an Uncharted 5, with Drake potentially returning for a new installment—though nothing has been officially confirmed by the studio.
The Sledgehammer Connection
Regarding North’s assertion that Sledgehammer Games is developing the 2027 Call of Duty game, the report remains unconfirmed but does not seem far-fetched given this has been reported since 2024. The studio last served as lead developer on 2023’s Modern Warfare 3, suggesting it may be time for Sledgehammer to take the helm again. Intriguingly, it has also been reported that Activision’s new ownership of the Halo franchise could involve Sledgehammer—or at least a division within the studio—working on a Halo game.
If North’s speculation holds any truth, Richtofen fans may need to brace themselves for a lengthy wait. The character’s last major appearances have come through Treyarch’s Black Ops titles, and a Sledgehammer-led 2027 release would not naturally feature the Zombies veteran unless the studio chose to incorporate him.
Looking Ahead
This year’s Call of Duty entry is Modern Warfare 4, with Infinity Ward leading development. The game releases on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC, continuing the franchise’s annual release cadence that has defined it for well over a decade.
As North himself noted, he simply hopes Richtofen’s story is not brought to a close. Whether Activision and its studios choose to honor that hope remains to be seen—but for now, fans of the character have every reason to keep their expectations open-ended, if cautiously optimistic.
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