Assassin's Creed: Live-Action Series Officially Ordered by Netflix
The showrunners are already known
Netflix and Ubisoft announced their collaboration a good five years ago – now the green light has officially been given: "Assassin's Creed" will become a live-action series! The streaming giant also announced who will be responsible for the series behind the scenes.
Roberto Patino and David Wiener will be working together on the project as showrunners. Both have a lot of experience in the series business: Patino was a writer on the sci-fi series "Westworld" and the gangster drama "Sons of Anarchy". Wiener, on the other hand, has already turned a popular video game into a series as showrunner: He was responsible for the second season of the sci-fi adaptation "Halo".
"Assassin's Creed" comes from French developer Ubisoft and combines historical settings with modern science fiction. The focus is on a centuries-old conflict between Assassins and Templars. Netflix has already announced initial information about its adaptation in a statement.
"'Assassin's Creed' is a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions – one set on determining mankind's future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will. The series follows its characters across pivotal historical events as they battle to shape humanity's destiny."
It will be particularly exciting to see which settings will be used in the series adaptation. The game series has already covered numerous eras – so there is plenty to choose from.
The showrunner duo also commented on the series order:
"We've been fans of 'Assassin's Creed' since its release in 2007. [...] Beneath the scope, the spectacle, the parkour and the thrills is a baseline for the most essential kind of human story – about people searching for purpose, struggling with questions of identity and destiny and faith. It is about power and violence and sex and greed and vengeance."
With "Assassin's Creed", Netflix is once again turning a video game into a series. Previously, "Castlevania", "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" and "Arcane" were released – series that were all received positively. So it will be interesting to see whether the streaming service can continue its run. However, it is not yet known when we will get to see the "Assassin's Creed" series.
Assassin's Creed – Between History, Myth and Fascination
Since its first release in 2007, "Assassin's Creed" has become one of the most successful video game series in the world. With millions of copies sold, numerous spin-offs and an international fan audience, it is clear that "Assassin's Creed" has long since become a pop-cultural phenomenon. But what makes the series so fascinating?
The Perfect Blend of History and Fiction
One of the key success factors of the series is its unique combination of real world history with a fictional but cleverly constructed conspiracy between Assassins and Templars. The series takes players on time travel to different eras – from the Crusades to Ancient Egypt, Victorian London and the Viking Age. The historical settings are not just backdrops, but have been reconstructed with great attention to detail. Historical events are sometimes embedded in the storyline. This immersive historical experience sets "Assassin's Creed" apart from other games.
The Freedom of the Open World
Another trademark of the series is the large, open game world. Players can not only complete missions, but also explore cities, fulfill side quests, uncover secrets or simply roam through impressive landscapes. The "parkour" system, which enables fluid climbing and jumping over roofs and buildings, has become particularly well-known.
A Mythology Full of Depth
Beneath the historical surface lies a complex science fiction story about a genetic memory and ancient artifacts. This layer lends the series a special atmosphere. The story about the millennia-old conflict between Assassins (freedom) and Templars (order) also provides philosophical and moral approaches that go beyond pure action gameplay.
The Movie Adaptation
In 2016, a Hollywood adaptation with Michael Fassbender in the lead role was attempted. But it was not a success: The adaptation was received largely negatively by fans of the games. Critics accused the movie of being too overloaded and superficial at the same time. While the visual design and some action scenes were praised, the complex background story of the games could hardly be transferred to the screen in a meaningful way. So it will be interesting to see how the series will fare.
