Netflix’s live-action version of Assassin’s Creed is officially in the works, as revealed by Ubisoft on Thursday. Per Ubisoft’s blog, Netflix has greenlit the TV adaptation of the historical action-adventure game series with Roberto Patino (DMZ, Westworld) and David Wiener (Halo, Homecoming) as the creators, showrunners, and executive producers. Ubisoft and Netflix initially announced the development of the project in 2020.
“We’ve been enthusiasts of Assassin’s Creed since it debuted in 2007. Each day we engage with this show, we feel exhilarated and honored by the opportunities that Assassin’s Creed presents to us,” stated Patino and Wiener in a joint press release.
“Underneath the grand scope, the spectacle, the parkour, and the excitement lies a foundation for the most fundamental type of human narrative — about individuals seeking purpose, grappling with themes of identity, fate, and belief. It deals with power, violence, sexuality, greed, and revenge. But above all, this is a series about the importance of human connection, transcending cultures and time. And it’s about what we risk losing as a species when those bonds falter. We have an incredible team alongside us with the wonderful people at Ubisoft and our supporters at Netflix, and we’re devoted to crafting something remarkable for fans worldwide.”
The series is expected to center on the franchise’s main struggle between two secret factions: the Assassins and the Templars, who clash through different eras and historical moments, with the main character able to access and experience these ancestral memories via a device called the Animus. However, there are currently no specifics regarding the time period in which the TV series will take place or if the story will commence with the franchise’s original 12th-century protagonist Altaïr. Justin Kurzel’s 2016 movie introduced a new character, Aguilar, an assassin from 15th-century Spain. My recommendation: let Kassandra, Evie Frye, or Fujibayashi Naoe take the lead this time.
What do we know for certain? Nothing is true, everything is permitted.