Summary
Netflix has officially given the green light to a live-action series based on theAssassin’s Creedvideo game franchise. The streaming service has been finding success with several video game franchises, includingThe Witcher,Castlevania, andCyberpunk: Edgerunners.Netflix also recently aired the first season of aDevil May Cryanime series, and they haveSplinter Cell: Deathwatchslated for later this year.
TheAssassin’s Creedvideo game franchise has been popular since 2007, even seeing annual releases for a time, and selling over 230 million copies across all titles. The games allow players to explore different time periods and historical locations via open worlds while playing a figure caught in a battle for humanity’s fate. The franchise even released a new game earlier this year,Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which is set in 16th-century Japan. The games were also adapted into a live-action movie of the same name in 2016 starring Michael Fassbender. However, that film was poorly received, with lackluster reviews and box office returns.
As reported byTHR,Netflix has greenlit anAssassin’s Creedlive-action series. Roberto Patino, who is known for shows likeSons of AnarchyandWestworld, and David Wiener, whose work includesThe Killingsand the live-actionHaloTV series, are reported to serve as creators, showrunners, and executive producers on the show.In a joint statement, the creative team stated: “…[M]ore than anything, this is a show about the value of human connection, across cultures, across time, and it’s about what we stand to lose as a species, when those connections break.” The team behind the live-action adaptation has a love forAssassin’s Creedand understands the themes at play, giving the series exciting potential. Netflix also provided a logline, which reads:
Assassin’s Creedis a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will. The series follows its characters across pivotal historical events as they battle to shape humanity’s destiny
A Netflix Series Is the Perfect Format For A Live-ActionAssassin’s Creed
While details like casting and a release date are still a ways off, the series is joining the successful run of other video game shows that have thrived on the streaming service. Ubisoft’sanimatedSplinter Cellseriesis also headed to Netflix later this year, following a trailer that teased the show with Liev Schreiber voicing Sam Fisher.Assassin’s Creedis also the type of story that could be done well in a TV format.
While a movie may lock audiences into one point in time or a single character, anAssassin’s CreedTV series could follow different ancestors at different points in time, allowing the show to delve into various cultures as it goes. This works even better if it utilizes early storylines with characters like Desmond, who were used to access the ancestral memories that the players were interacting with. Further details aboutAssassin’s Creedwill be forthcoming as the live-action series continues development. Still, fans of the series have plenty to be excited about, with proven creatives working behind the scenes.
