Netflix Announces Live-Action Assassin's Creed Series

Netflix revealed this morning a collaboration with Ubisoft to develop a live-action series based on the “Assassin’s Creed” game franchise.

The series will explore various historical periods, focusing on a clandestine group of assassins who possess “genetic memory” and their enduring conflict with the Knights Templar. The franchise has achieved significant commercial success, with 155 million game copies sold globally. A previous film adaptation, released in 2016 and featuring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, proved unsuccessful in theaters and was difficult to follow.

Currently, the companies are in the process of selecting a showrunner. Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik from Ubisoft’s film and television department will act as executive producers. (Ubisoft is also contributing to the Apple TV+ comedy series “Mythic Quest,” in addition to developing adaptations of its own game properties.)

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Ubisoft and translate the intricate and compelling narratives of Assassin’s Creed into a captivating series,” stated Peter Friedlander, Netflix’s Vice President of Original Series. “With its stunning historical settings and widespread popularity as a top-selling video game franchise, we are dedicated to meticulously producing immersive and exciting entertainment rooted in this unique intellectual property, offering both devoted fans and our global audience a more extensive experience.”

The announcement suggests the potential for additional series in the future, as Netflix and Ubisoft plan to “utilize the iconic video game’s extensive collection of engaging stories with broad international appeal to create adaptations in live-action, animated, and anime formats.”

Netflix recently commissioned an eight-episode season of “Resident Evil,” another video game franchise that had previously been adapted into films. Furthermore, the platform experienced considerable success with its adaptation of “The Witcher,” which originated as a fantasy book series and gained prominence through its video game versions.