As the world eagerly awaits the release of Assassins Creed Valhalla, some major news dropped surrounding the long storied franchise.
Netflix, the streaming juggernaut, has announced this week that they will be developing a live action television series based on Assassin’s Creed. They released a very short teaser trailer for the series. It featured the iconic Assassin’s symbol with the Netflix N in the center of it, showcasing the partnership between the two entities.
“Netflix will be developing an Assassin’s Creed live action series,” a follow up tweet said. “Ubisoft’s Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik will serve as Executive Producers.”
The inclusion of Ubisoft personnel on the creative team for this show speaks volumes about Hollywood’s new willingness to involve video game creatives in the television and film process.
We saw this recently with the announcement that HBO is creating a series for The Last of Us. Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann, who directed both games in the acclaimed series, will serve as showrunner along with Chernobyl scribe Craig Maizin.
With Kreinik and Altman as executive producers, it’s likely that the show will remain true to the look and feel of the games.
“We’re excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassin’s Creed is beloved for,” Netflix’s VP of original series Peter Friedlander said. “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 no shock that Netflix inked this deal. One of the streaming service’s biggest successes in recent years was The Witcher, which is based on the best selling video game and book series. The success of The Witcher has made video game properties far more appealing to Netflix and Hollywood in general.
Of course, this is not the first time that Assassin’s Creed has been adapted into live action. There was the 2016 film, starring Michael Fassbender. Though the film was a critical bomb, alienating both new and old fans alike. It’s safe to assume that Netflix is hoping to distance itself from that project entirely.
The deal between Netflix and Ubisoft is apparently a multi-project agreement. There will be a live action series with room for additional spinoffs and an animated property.
“We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix,” Ubisoft’s Jason Altman said, “and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.”
