Last year we heard that Sony Pictures were in discussions to pick up the movie rights to the video game Assassin’s Creed, with plans to adapt and distribute the movie and build a franchise in collaboration with Ubisoft Motion Pictures (the newly launched film division of game publisher Ubisoft).
Those talks were put on hold and no deal between Sony and Unisoft was signed, however the movie is still in active development and now Variety reports that Michael Fassbender will both star in and produce the adaptation.
On the casting Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures, said:
“Michael Fassbender was our first choice… Michael is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor.”
The Assassin’s Creed franchise, first published in 2007, has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and the latest, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, was released last year. The story follows a bartender named Desmond Miles who is captured by a secret corporation called Abstergo Industries and forced to go back in time to various historical periods such as the Renaissance and Crusades to relieve the memories of his ancestors — all assassins — in order to recover ancient artifacts. Revelations is set in 16th century Constantinople.
While Sony could still come on-board to distribute, Ubisoft will “stick to their initial plan and develop the film independently in order to maintain greater creative control”. Ubisoft Motion Pictures will now look at hiring a writer and director, and re-enter talks with studios at a later date.
2011 was a great year for Michael Fassbender with the success of X-Men: First Class and the awards buzz from Shame (narrowly missing out on a Best Actor nod). Fassbender is smart to capitalise on this by getting into the producing game, as this will ensure he can continue to get high-profile roles, and he’ll have a lot more control over his career.
What do fans of the game think the Fass playing Desmond Miles?
