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With no end in sight to future patches and rumors of other iconic 80s action stars making an appearance, there are plenty of classic characters from which to choose. Presumably, these will also generally be protagonists who are good with guns and who are always ready with a cool one-liner.
The Terminator
Released in 1984, The Terminator features Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character—specifically a Cyberdine Systems Model 101. Sent back in time from the year 2029 amidst an apocalyptic war, his singular purpose is to kill Sarah Connor. Sarah's son will one day lead humanity to victory in a war against A.I. machines, and the Terminator must assassinate Sarah before she can birth mankind's savior.
Arnie's inclusion in the CoD franchise in one form or another seems like a logical choice. While he has also appeared as Conan The Barbarian and Dutch in Predator, two other iconic 80s action films, the cyborg assassin has already been referred to as a possible suggestion by leaker Tom Henderson and would be a prime candidate for the next CoD cameo.
Chan Ka-Kui
Released in 1985, Police Story stars Jackie Chan as Chan Ka-Kui, a Sergeant for the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. Betrayed and framed by his fellow officers, he must take down a notorious crime lord and clear his own name while also protecting those he loves from mortal danger.
Like most of Jackie Chan's characters, Ka-Kui gets the job done with his fists more often than with guns. Just like John McClane, however, he is an armed officer of the law and should be more than capable of acclimatizing to the dangerous region of Verdansk.
Ripley
Released in 1986, Alien and features Sigourney Weaver as Lieutenant Ellen Ripley. Sent to investigate a deserted human colony that is feared to be the home of murderous extra-terrestrials, she risks her life in an explosive confrontation with the alien queen.
Ripley may be more accustomed to the futuristic sci-fi weaponry of the Alien franchise, but she's one of the most iconic action heroines of all time and would be a terrific inspiration for interesting, themed Point Of Interests. A crash-landed Sulaco spaceship may not fit with CoD fiction, but, ever since a nuclear bomb sent Verdansk back in time, it would seem Activision is malleable towards theming if it produces interesting gameplay introductions.
J.J. McQuade
Released in 1983, Lone Wolf McQuade stars Chuck Norris as J.J. McQuade, former Marine, and current Texas Ranger. As a misanthropic loner, his rough exterior is softened by a beautiful woman as he teams up with State Troopers to bring a wanted drug lord to justice.
With many years of experience in armed combat and his lone-wolf attitude, J.J. seems like the perfect Operator to take into a solos match. Using improvisational fighting tactics that include guns, vehicles, and his bare limbs, this Chuck Norris character is perhaps the best suited of all to 'drop hot' next CoD season.
Indiana Jones
Released in 1981, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark features Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, an American archaeologist. Recruited by Army Intelligence agents in 1936, he is tasked with finding the biblical Ark of the Covenant before a rival archaeologist can deliver to it Adolf Hitler, who believes it would bring miraculous powers to his armies.
While Jones may be an anachronistic inclusion, there's no doubt he fits the mold of a 'cool-guy action hero from an 80s movie'. There's also the CoD franchise's Zombies mode in which an Indiana Jones Operator would have ample opportunity for relevant dialogue. While Jones isn't typically the shooting type, he's notoriously willing to bring a gun to a sword fight.
RoboCop
Released in 1987, RoboCop stars Peter Weller as Murphy, A.K.A. RoboCop. In a dystopian near-future wherein a mega-corporation controls the Detroit Police Force, a cop is killed, and his body is transformed into a robotic super-cop. On a brutally efficient path for justice, RoboCop struggles to come to with his former identity as Murphy.
RoboCop is designed to be, among other things, a literal killing machine. With his robotic dialogue delivery that should be easy for voice actors to replicate and a simple character model, he would seem like a relatively quick character to include. The criticisms of the appearances for the Rambo and McClane skins would hopefully elude RoboCop.
Dirty Harry
Released in 1983, Sudden Impact features Clint Eastwood as police Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan and is the fourth film in the Dirty Harry series. Tasked with investigating a series of murders, he becomes romantically intertwined with a woman who knows more than she lets on.
Having earned his nickname from his unorthodox yet effective crime-fighting methods, Harry would have to settle for Warzone's .357 Magnum as opposed to his favored .44 version of the famous handgun. Nonetheless, this throwback to Old West gunslingers would have many opportunities to invite opponents to "make" his day, and ask any punks if they're feeling lucky.
Snake Plissken
Released in 1981, Escape From New York stars Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces commando who has been convicted for federal crimes. Set in the imagined future of 1997, a war-torn America has converted Manhattan into a maximum-security prison island. When Air Force One is brought down over Manhattan by hijackers with the President on board, Snake is offered his freedom if he can rescue the President and escape within 24 hours.
As one of the primary inspirations for Hideo Kojima's famous video game character Solid Snake, Plissken would be an especially meaningful introduction for a large portion of CoD fans. The Verdansk POI of Prison would also seem like a great location to re-skin in the fashion of John Carpenter's classic action film.
Nico Toscani
Released in 1988, Above The Law features Steven Seagal in his acting debut as Nico Toscani, a former CIA Operative and Vietnam veteran who works for the Chicago Police. While investigating a shipment of narcotics, he uncovers a conspiracy that traces back to a familiar foe.
Nico may be an expert in the martial art Aikido, but his time as a Covert Operations specialist in the Vietnam War should have equipped him with the weapons training he'll need. That backstory of his also fits nicely into the Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise's canonical fiction and themes.
Martin Riggs
Released in 1987, Lethal Weapon stars Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs, an LAPD Detective. Having become self-destructive and reckless on-duty following the death of his wife, he's forced to partner with a by-the-book counterpart. While investigating a suspicious death, Riggs also eventually finds a purpose to live.
Wild, chaotic, and difficult to restrain, Martin Riggs is the Quads teammate who pushes opponents without communicating to his teammates for backup. If the next CoD action cameos are a duo, maybe his partner Roger Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover, will also be included as the "good cop" to Riggs' "bad cop."
