Assassin’s Creed: All About The Upcoming Netflix Series
Netflix announced that they would be Ubisoft's popular Assassin's Creed series into a new show for the streaming service. Here's what we know so far.
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The Ubisoft video game series Assassin’s Creed has been a gigantic hit since it debuted in 2007, which over the years has received multiple sequels, books, and a 2016 movie starring Michael Fassbender. With Assassin’s Creed continuing its rise in popularity, leave it to streaming giant Netflix to team up with Ubisoft to produce an Assassin’s Creed series based on the massive franchise.
ASSASSIN’S CREED – THE SERIES
The idea of Netflix learning from the mistakes of the past makes the idea of an Assassin’s Creed series even more exciting. As Netflix has done with The Witcher, an Assassin’s Creed series will allow viewers to truly immerse themselves in the world of the Assassins. In the Assassin’s Creed franchise, scientists have created technology allowing people to relive memories of their ancestors. With the story revolving around a shadow organization called the Brotherhood of Assassins and their centuries-old fight against their sworn enemies, the Templars, viewers can be taken to many different time-periods, much like the video games have done. To date, games have transported players to ancient Egypt, the French Revolution, Victorian England, and the Golden Age of Piracy, amongst other time periods.
Details of the series at this point are pretty slim. Vice President of Original Series at Netflix, Peter Friedlander, wasn’t able to share much when he announced the Assassin’s Creed series was in development with the streaming service, via Variety. “We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for. From its breathtaking historical worlds and massive global appeal as one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, we are committed to carefully crafting epic and thrilling entertainment based on this distinct IP and provide a deeper dive for fans and our members around the world to enjoy.”
Ubisoft Film & Television head Jason Altman echoed Friedlander’s sentiments through Esquire, “For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise. We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix, and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.”
NETFLIX CHOOSES A SHOWRUNNER
While news of the Assassin’s Creed series for Netflix remains slim, they have hired a showrunner to take the project on, and he has credentials. Jeb Stuart, the writer of Die Hard, has signed on to bring Assassin’s Creed to life for Netflix. This announcement marks some serious forward momentum on the new series for the streaming service and proves it’s still happening, despite pandemic-related delays that have slowed down many projects. Fans can expect more announcements for the series to come soon.
ASSASSIN’S CREED – THE GAME
The first game, Assassin’s Creed, came out on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2007. It was an open-world game that took players on a fictional historical adventure set around real-world events. Players assumed the role of assassin Altaïr, carrying out numerous assassinations and various other missions to complete his goals. But this was just the beginning of the Assassin’s Creed series.
Many more games would follow with various other assassins. The main Assassin’s Creed series releases included Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Assassin’s Creed III, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Assassin’s Creed Rogue, Assassin’s Creed Unity, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and the newest game coming soon Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
ASSASSIN’S CREED – THE MOVIE
In 2016, Ubisoft, along with 20th Century Fox, tried to capitalize on the popularity of the Assassin’s Creed series. The movie received lukewarm reviews at best and was a box office dud. Michael Fassbender starred as assassin Aguilar de Nerha, a character he comes to play in the movie via technology that unlocks his genetic memories.
Fassbender spoke to Movie’n’co about the movie’s failure after he heard about the Netflix series being produced and what he’d do differently with the upcoming Assassin’s Creed series, “For sure, it wasn’t ideal. I think we missed an opportunity there a little bit. So we’ll wait and see what Ubisoft are coming up with. But right now I don’t know. I would make it more entertaining, that’s really the main note. The feeling of the film, I think it took itself too seriously and I would get to the action a lot quicker. I think there’s three beginnings of the film, which is a mistake.”
TOO EARLY TO SAY
Again, virtually nothing else has been announced so far about the upcoming Assassin’s Creed series. Netflix has not yet announced who will star in the stories, nor who will write and direct. The only thing we do know at this point is that Ubisoft’s Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik have signed on to executive produce the series.
With that in mind, the plot of the new series could begin virtually anywhere. With the multiple storylines and time periods already given in the video game series, it’s anyone’s guess where they will start. One would imagine that the battle between the Brotherhood of the Assassins and the Templars would play a major role in the series, but which assassin we will see would be a guess. If the Assassin’s Creed series is anything like the film, it’s possible the lead could be a completely new assassin that hasn’t made an appearance in the series so far.
Netflix may decide to do an origin story, which they may have to do in order to explain the technology behind the company harvesting memories. Would the Assassin’s Creed series start with familiar video game characters such as Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Altair, or Edward Kenway or would they bring along a new character?
Hopefully, the makers of the Assassin’s Creed series will take their cues from The Witcher on how to build a solid series based on a video game, as Netflix has proven that they are particularly adept at adapting video games into exciting and captivating series for fans and novices alike.
