Following it's initial release in 2007, Assassin's Creed has since become one of the best-selling franchises to have ever graced our consoles. A film adaptation was first announced in 2011 and since then, the concept has been passed around from studio to studio. Initially attached to Sony Entertainment, the game's developer, Ubisoft, decided to take the reins by assigning their own company, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, to the project - later announcing a collaboration with distributor New Regency. Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Montreal, announced the partnership stating that: "Ubisoft chose to partner with New Regency because they are a talent-and-filmmaker-driven company... Bringing aboard New Regency's renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that Assassin's Creed will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the video game franchise." Lore is certainly an appropriate word regarding the franchise: the sheer amount of content and detail available within the series will prove a testament to level at which the film does the game justice - compacting an open-world game into an approximate 2 hour film will undoubtedly prove challenging. From Altaïr's exploits during the Crusades, Ezio's escapades throughout Renaissance Italy and Ratonhnhaké:ton/Connor's revolutionary adventures in North America, it is fair to say that there is a whole host of possibilities, characters and locations to exhibit in film form. However, it is uncertain which of these ancestors will appear in the film. As this is the first instalment in a potential franchise, we can only surmise that the producers will naturally adhere to the progression of the games. It will be interesting to see how a film will translate the dynamic nature of the Animus technology alongside the simultaneous progression of the modern day storyline and the historical exploration of Miles' ancestors. Could Ubisoft's sovereignty in development will disprove the unspoken trend that game adaptations inevitably fail to live up to their expectations? Michael Fassbender is set to play protagonist Desmond Miles as well as produce the film alongside Ubisoft's Jean-Julien Baronnet and prominent film producer Frank Marshall. At present, the film is in production, the script is actively being developed and we can expect the film circa 2015. Like this article? Looking forward to any of these movies? Let us know in the comments section below.
Film & Media student and aspiring screenwriter from Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. Avid consumer of any genre of film and an active player of games. I also possess the ability to walk like Captain Jack Sparrow after a few drinks with remarkable accuracy.
