“Assassin’s Creed universe” expands with multiple new Netflix shows
By Ashley Hurst
Ubisoft and Netflix have teamed up to create not only a live-action Assassin’s Creed TV show, but also an animated show and an anime.
Remember when the popular video game franchise Assassin’s Creed was adapted into a live-action movie starring Michael Fassbender back in 2016? If you do, you’ll recall that the movie wasn’t just bad, it was pretty terrible. Some might think that after the movie, all hope for further adaptations had faded. But now, Ubisoft and Netflix have teamed up to create not only a live-action Assassin’s Creed TV series, but also an animated show and an anime.
Assassin’s Creed is a time-hopping saga that lets people play as different assassins throughout history, from ancient Egypt to Revolutionary War times and beyond. The first game came out in 2007, and the series is still going strong today, selling over 155 million copies worldwide. In addition to the disappointing 2016 movie, we also have a series of successful novels.
The live-action show will be executive produced by Jason Altman (Mythic Quest) and Ubisoft’s TV boss, Danielle Kreinik. Netflix calls the first series an “epic, genre-bending live-action adaptation.” Despite having two executive producers signed on, the series does not yet have a showrunner. Clearly, these are early days.
Jason Altman, Head of Ubisoft Film & Television, is obviously pleased. “For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise,” he said. “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 Vice President Peter Friedlander also had some thoughts:
"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."
It’s currently unclear how the shows will work. Will they be their own thing? Will they adapt parts of the games? Might they adapt the books? There are a lot of options. Let’s just hope they choose the correct path.
The future of Assassin’s Creed looks even brighter now that there’s a multi-series deal with Netflix. And don’t forget that the latest installment of the games, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, is releasing later this year.
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