Advertisement

Michael Fassbender to produce and star in Assassin's Creed film

Hit video game series to be brought to big screen by it's own games studio Ubisoft

Michael Fassbender is attached to produce and star in the film adaptation of hit video game series ‘Assassin’s Creed’.

The original game follows Desmond Miles, an unassuming bartender kidnapped by an organisation with ties to the Knights Templar who hook him up to a machine called the Animus, which allows him to re-enact the lives of his assassin ancestors.


[Related story: Michael Fassbender stars as James Bond in fan-made trailer]

They do so to learn about valuable and extremely powerful historical artefacts from throughout history, starting with the Crusades and moving to Renaissance era Italy in the sequels and the American Civil War in ‘Assassin’s Creed III’, which comes out later this year.

Ubisoft Motion Picture’s CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet said: "Michael Fassbender was our first choice. Michael (Fassbender) is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

Sony Pictures were originally on board but complications saw the game’s original developer Ubisoft get the film going on their own, before later selling it on to a major studio. They can certainly afford to: the series has so far as sold over 30 million units since 2007.

Baronnet told Variety: "We're open to re-discuss with the key studios once the production package is finalised.”

It is un-clear as to who Fassbender will be playing in the film. Desmond is a lead character but the majority of the game is played as his ancestor Altair, who is silent throughout his parts.

Whoever pens the script, it’s entirely possible that they could have Fassbender play both roles.

It’s risky business for Ubisoft - no matter the success or quality of a video game series in the past, most film adaptations have floundered. ‘Super Mario Bros’, ‘Hitman’ and ‘Doom’ were all panned by critics and failed at the box office.

With Fassbender attached however there is an air of credibility about the production at this early stage. With the company behind the games themselves holding the reigns as well, ‘Assassin’s Creed’ is at the very least taking a different approach to game-to-film adaptations.