Over the years there have been many attempts to adapt video games to film. There have been a few financial successes, such as the Tomb Raider and Resident Evil franchises. However there has yet to be an adaptation that achieves any level of critical or fan approval. Actor Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 12 Years a Slave), has attached himself to a feature film adaptation of Assassin’s Creed, as both producer and star. The video game follows Desmond Miles, a seemingly average person who has a unique ancestral lineage. There has been a secret war between Assassins and Knight Templars for centuries. In an attempt to prevent the Templars bid for world domination, Miles relives his ancestor’s memories, who were skilled assassins, many centuries in the past. That is where the fun begins…
Fassbender’s involvement raised the antennae of movie and video game fans everywhere. News has been relatively quiet on the project despite the studio announcing a release date of August 7th, 2015. While speaking with IGN, Fassbender gave an update on it’s status and addressed fans concerns about the upcoming film adaptation:
“You know, we absolutely want to respect the game…There’s so much cool stuff in the game that we’re actually spoiled for choice in terms of what we can use and what we can’t, but we also want to bring new elements to it and perhaps our own version of things that already exist in the game. But we’re definitely making a feature film, and we’re approaching it as a feature film, as opposed to approaching it as a video game. But I love the world. I don’t really play that many video games, but when I met up with the guys from Ubisoft and they started to explain this whole world and the idea of DNA memory — you know, I think it’s a very feasible scientific theory. I just thought, “This is so rich,” and about the possibility of it being this cinematic experience. So I’m really excited about it, and we’re working very hard to make sure that we’ve got the best and most exciting, original package.”
Ubisoft Studios had been shopping this property around Hollywood for years, but refused to give up creative control unless both of participating studio’s visions aligned. It seems they have found a more than suitable match in Fassbender. Thus far in his career, he has proven to be the type of actor to only select quality projects, that initially have the potential to be great. He might of picked the right video game property to mine, since Assassin’s Creed is known for its detailed historical recreations, stealth action and epic vistas. A perfect fit for the big screen. Fassbender is serving as a producer on the film, so he has a large influence on the story and feel of the movie. It seems they will not be directly translating any story line, but playing in the world to create the best possible film. And a great video game to film adaptation is what the world is waiting for.
Assassin’s Creed will hit theaters August 7th, 2015.
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Source: IGN