Who is Mara in CoD based on?

Who is Mara in CoD based on?

The Call of Duty (CoD) series has seen its fair share of controversy over the years, with some characters gaining more attention than others. One of the most intriguing and contentious characters in the Modern Warfare series is Mara, the CIA asset. A writer and photographer named Clayton Haugen claims that Mara is based on a character he created named Cade Janus.

The Similarities Between Mara and Cade Janus

When asked to describe Cade Janus, Haugen said: "She’s the same character", further solidifying his claim. The similarities between Mara and Cade Janus extend beyond their character descriptions and backstories, as evidenced by the actress Alex Zedra, who plays both Mara and Janus. Haugen himself has stated that he drew inspiration from the Modern Warfare series when writing Cade Janus’s character. This coincidence raises several questions about creative ownership and whether Call of Duty’s decision to adopt Mara was, in fact, an appropriation of his work.

Did Call of Duty Take Creative Inspiration from a Fan Fiction Character?

It appears that Call of Duty borrowed heavily from fan fiction writer Clayton Haugen’s creation, Cade Janus. Despite being unaware of the exact nature of the character at the time, Haugen says that he was influenced by Call of Duty when creating his own character, leading him to believe that a convergence between the two would occur at some point.

Who is Cade Janus?

As stated, Cade Janus is a character from Haugen’s short story "November Renaissance", in which she appears as the protagonist. While there may be some ambiguity about how much of this story informed Mara’s creation, Haugen’s intentions and character inspiration are clear: Janus is the protagonist and main character, not an antagonist or rival as initially thought. Her connection to the government is limited, and the focus remains on her growth as an individual.

Conclusion: The Mara Conundrum

The revelation that Mara may be based on Cade Janus opens up complex questions about authorship and creative ownership in the realm of video game development. While similarities are easy to spot, the level of influence required for creative ownership is open to debate. Some might view this as simple homage to fan fiction authors, while others might deem it plagiarism. To make the situation more concerning is Haugen’s connection to both the character’s origin story and the real-world authorship of a work often considered fan-based.