HOME TRAILERS 2013 SCHEDULE PODCASTS REVIEWS POSTERS INTERVIEWS SHORT FILMS NEWS FEEDS ABOUT APPS

LATEST NEWS

New Regency Partners with Ubisoft for Fassbender's 'Assassin's Creed'

by Alex Billington
October 22, 2012
Source: Variety

Remember a few months back, in the summer before Comic-Con, it was surprisingly revealed that Michael Fassbender would be starring and producing an Assassin's Creed movie. Like other in-the-works video game adaptations, we weren't sure how long it would take until we would actually see this made. Well there's good news, as production company New Regency has put out a press release confirming that they will be partnering with Ubisoft to bring the Assassin's Creed movie to the big screen. "The development of a screenplay is beginning immediately and the project is being fast tracked as the creative pieces come together, while allowing Ubisoft to maintain control of key elements of the movie’s creative direction."

The report goes on to announce that Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the film and television division of Ubisoft, will develop the Assassin's Creed film in close collaboration with New Regency. "Bringing aboard New Regency’s renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that Assassin’s Creed will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the video game franchise," promises Ubisoft Motion Pictures' CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet. For those skeptical, the release does confirm Fassbender's involvement, and New Regency names him. "Having just finished working with Michael on Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave (with Plan B) made the partnership even more irresistible."

A follow-up report in Variety confirms a few other details, including that 20th Century Fox (who has a deal with New Regency) will distribute the movie. But Ubisoft will still be the primary developers behind this adaptation, getting much more intensely focused and involved in its creation, unlike with Prince of Persia, made by Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures. The report also mentions that "in addition to preserving elements of the game that make up its DNA, like the design of its characters and historical elements, it hopes to tie in the release of a film with a new game launch." Meaning it'll be a new story, but will still involve Altaïr (to be played by Fassbender). "We don't want to make games just for the sake of movies. We want to make them in concert with the games." We'll keep you updated on further development.

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

Funda

I love Michael Fassbender and Altair, but Fassbender as Altair? Nope. Nope. Nope. Why can't this game just be one of those games without a movie adaptations?
Dan W

The fact that Ubisoft is at the head of the table on this makes me a lot less skeptical about the film. But based on all the other movies based on video games before it I can't get excited yet.
http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin

I would've preferred Ezio to Altair, but maybe there will be a cameo of some sort.
- Name
  
  Yes Ezio.He has to speak with that "excellent" italian accent. "Here's a me,Ezio." God how annoying was that in the game! Either make the characters speak normal english since they would not have an accent in their mother tongue or use actuall italian language with subtitles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GpQfss0Sko
  - http://www.facebook.com/matt.peloquin.14 Matt Peloquin
    
    True, but I guess I never paid attention to the accent. I'd like it in Italian with subtitles though.
http://profiles.google.com/snears Nick Sears

It absolutely needs Ubisoft along the way. I've very excited for this.
http://www.facebook.com/TheChosenPessimist Jon Odishaw

I think Fassbender would make a good Desmond.
Roderick

Michael Fassbender as Altair is horrible idea. Casting white actors for ethnic roles need to stop... I'll be so pissed off if this happens... But ill probably go watch it cause i'm such a huge fan of Assassins Creed... Not that Price of Persia didn't already have a shitload of problems as a movie, but the fact that casting white actors to play Persians definitely pissed off a big portion of audience. When will hollywood learn.
- Name
  
  ..here we go again... ..like everything else about assassins creed is historically and factually accurate ...I like the game as a game a lot but there are some pretty much asinine things there too ...
  - ProjectionistHP
    
    ...yep, and by the looks of altair in the game, he does't really look more ethnic than Fassbender, more like a westerner with a good tan...
Dave B

Altair is Syrian. It's just plain wrong to whitewash someone Ubisoft has made clear isn't a white man. It'll end up being like Jake G playing the Prince of Persia...using famous names and giving them a tan to look middle eastern is just plain wrong.
Dave B

The fact that Fassbander is director and assigned himself the main role of Altair screams how arrogant he is.