Michael Fassbender To Lead Assassin's Creed Movie
Prometheus actor also hired to co-produce Ubisoft's ambitious movie adaptation of their own best-selling video game franchise.
"Michael Fassbender was our first choice. Michael (Fassbender) is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."Ubisoft actually setup their own studio a little while back so they can use the profits from the video game sales to fund their own independent movie adaptations, allowing them to keep full creative control on their properties after years of Hollywood misfiring on video game adaptations. At one time they were in bed with Sony Pictures about an Assassin's Creed adaptation but they got nervous when their plan for the film didn't match theirs. Talking to Variety, Baronnet is open to the possibility of teaming with another studio for a distribution deal if a deal is right;
"We're open to re-discuss with the key studios once the production package is finalized," Baronnet told Variety. "Whatever the financial model, UMP will limit its risk investment."According to the report, Ubisoft will attempt to cut down costs on their budget by doing many of the visual effects in-house with their in-house video game production studios. The hiring of Fassbender as a producer as well as star from the get-go seems to be key in the film's development... he has been hired before a director or even a writer and brings legitimacy to their ambitious movie plans and with him on board the sky is the limit now for other talents they can attract to it. He has already worked with numerous big directors who could make Assassin's Creed into something special. His Prometheus director Ridley Scott loves the Crusades period, although he may have gotten it out of his system with Kingdom of Heaven in 2005. Fassbender is working with him again though on his next movie The Counselor and also on a Prometheus sequel, so there is a chance for Fassbender to bend his ear into at least considering a video game adaptation. Fassbender is also great friends and now frequent collaborator with Brad Pitt... who is to say he couldn't bring him on board to play a villain or another side-character. Lots of interesting permutations to consider but the hiring of Fassbender certainly gives this project some legitimacy. More as we get it...