Michael to produce and star in film version of video game

http://collider.com/assassins-creed-michael-fassbender/178101/

Michael Fassbender Set to Star in and Co-Produce ASSASSIN’S CREED
by Matt Goldberg Posted:July 9th, 2012 at 7:11 am

Last fall, we reported that Sony Pictures was set to adapt Ubisoft’s popular video game, Assassin’s Creed, but that the project was stalling due to Ubisoft’s demands for control. The negotiations between the studios were put on hold as Ubisoft looked to develop the film independently. However, the assassination looks to be back on in a big way as Michael Fassbender is set to star in and co-produce the flick. And just like that, I’m interested in an adaptation of Assassin’s Creed.

Hit the jump for more. Fassbender will be seen next year in Steve McQueen‘s Twelve Years a Slave and Ridley Scott‘s The Counselor.

For those unfamiliar with the Assassin’s Creed video games, they involve a man in the present day who’s kidnapped by a shadowy organization, and is forced into a machine that allows him to re-live his past lives as an assassin in order to retrieve important pieces of his “genetic memory”. The first game has the assassinations taking place during the Crusades. Later games had the character slaughtering famous people in the Renaissance, and the upcoming Assassin’s Creed III is set during the American Revolution.

In addition to the distinct time periods, the series is also known for the protagonist’s ability to free-run, which should make for some fun scenes in a movie. It’s unknown if the film will adapt the first game, jump into the sequels, or craft an entirely new story by using the series’ basic premise. I hope at some point in the film, Fassbender’s character completely botches an execution and then spends the next 20 minutes running away before hiding in a pile of hay. That would ring true to my experience on every assassination I ever attempted in the game.

While Fassbender has done a terrific job of balancing indie dramas with blockbuster fare, his big budget films have been ensemble pieces. Assassin’s Creed would be his opportunity to have a franchise to truly call his own. Video game adaptations remain one of trickiest genres to adapt, and Ubisoft realized that danger after getting burned on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. That’s why they’re attempting to finance the film independently, and according to Variety, Ubisoft is currently in the process of packaging the project with a writer and director before bringing it to the major studios. If Ubisoft is able to get a writer and director as talented as Fassbender, Assassin’s Creed will definitely be a project to keep an eye on.

http://www.ingame.msnbc.msn.com/technology/ingame/gamers-cheer-michael-fassbenders-killer-role-assassins-creed-movie-871456

Gamers cheer Michael Fassbender's killer role in 'Assassin's Creed' movie
Assassin's

Good news gamers: The history-hopping "Assassin's Creed" games will be coming to the big screen ... with Michael Fassbender in the starring role.

With his chiseled features and piercing eyes, not to mention his tremendous acting talent, Michael Fassbender has killed it in film such as "X-Men: First Class," "Shame," "Haywire" and "Prometheus." And it appears he will be deadly once more when he steps into the starring role in the forthcoming film adaptation of the "Assassin's Creed" video games.

According to Variety, Fassbender will not only grab his daggers and don a hood to star in the movie based on the best-selling, time-bending Ubisoft games, he will also co-produce the film through his DMC Film company.

"Michael Fassbender was our first choice to play the franchise's iconic hooded hero," Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures, told Variety. "Michael (Fassbender) is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

Last year, Ubisoft launched Ubisoft Motion Pictures to help shepherd its games to the big screen. And in the fall, Sony Pictures had nearly landed the film rights to the game franchise. However, Variety now says that Ubisoft and Sony have put those negotiations on hold.

Ubisoft execs now plan to stick to their initial plan and develop the film independently in order to maintain greater creative control...While Sony could still wind up distributing the films, UMP will package the project with a writer and director before resuming talks with the studio.

"We're open to re-discuss with the key studios once the production package is finalized," Baronnet told Variety.

It's still unclear exactly how the movie will adapt the games. Will Desmond Miles be the protagonist? Which time period(s) will it take place in? Which ancestor(s) will be the focus? Throughout Ubisoft's push to bring the franchise to the big screen, little has been said about specifics of the film.

Michael

Fox Searchlight

The Variety article says merely, the "plot revolves around a man who learns his ancestors were trained assassins after he is kidnapped by a secret org with ties to the Knights Templar, and sent back in time to retrieve historical artifacts."

One thing is for sure, video game fans are a notoriously vocal bunch when they don't like the direction a film adaptation of their favorite video game is going. (See Mark Wahlberg's much-panned involvement in the "Uncharted" movie). But news of Fassbender's involvement in the "Assassin's Creed" film was met with cheers on the gamer front Monday.

"He was pretty much the only decent thing in 'Prometheus,'" wrote a user going by the name "beanspeppin" over at game blog Kotaku. "This is very good casting, if it makes it to completion."

"Michael Fassbender is one of the best actors living," wrote commenter "shadowbender13" over at Joystiq. "To see him get involved with this is a gift."

But perhaps commenter Adam Reid summed it best over at The Verge: "Bad news: video game movie. Good news: it's Assassin’s Creed. F’n epic news: FASSBENDER!"

Winda Benedetti writes about video games for msnbc.com. You can follow her tweets about games and other things on Twitter here @WindaBenedetti and you follow her on Google+. Meanwhile, be sure to check out the IN-GAME FACEBOOK PAGE to discuss the day's gaming news and reviews.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-michael-fassbender-takes-on-assassins-creed-20120709,0,2703878.story

'Assassin's Creed': Can Michael Fassbender break video-game curse?

A shot from the popular video-game franchise. (Ubisoft / July 9, 2012)

By Steven Zeitchik

July 9, 2012, 12:35 p.m.
There’s no shortage of big-name stars who have tried to make movies out of hit video games. Mark Wahlberg and “Max Payne.” Dwayne Johnson and “Doom.” Jake Gyllenhaal and “Prince of Persia.”

There is, however, a shortage of such movies that have succeeded on any level (pretty much “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and, if you count Milla Jovovich as a big-name star, the “Resident Evil” franchise.)

Which makes today’s news, first reported by Variety, that Michael Fassbender is throwing his weight behind an “Assassin’s Creed” movie just a little bit noteworthy. Continuing a departure from his largely art-house-y past, the Irish-German actor will produce and star in a tent pole action adventure that’s being developed in-house by the video-game giant Ubisoft.

“Assassin’s Creed” is the hugely popular video-game franchise about an unassuming bartender, Desmond Miles, who is actually descended from an elite group of assassins called upon to fight evil forces throughout history. Previous versions have been set against the Crusades and the Renaissance; a new edition set during the American Revolution comes out in October.

Fassbender, who will play Miles, has a unique cachet. He’s a highly skilled actor who’s also hugely popular, something that can’t be said of many of the actors who’ve tried this before. He also has currency in the fan world thanks to some of his recent blockbuster turns as Magneto in "X-Men: First Class" and as a cool-headed cyborg in this season's "Prometheus."

But Ubisoft has its work cut out for it. The company no doubt hopes that it has a "Da Vinci Code"-style property on its hands. But the conventional wisdom has been that these video-game movies are set up to fail, not least because a narrative from an Xbox or PS doesn’t tend to translate to movie screens. (If they even get that far.) And Ubisoft is developing "Assassin's" in-house, without the input of a studio and its film know-how.

Then again, it can't do much worse than those that have come before.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=63314

Michael Fassbender To Star In ASSASSIN'S CREED
There has been talk of a big screen adaptation of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed for a while now, and while fans were worried they would be getting another Doom or Resident Evil, A-List actor Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class) has signed up for the title role!
Josh Wilding - 7/9/2012

Variety reports that Michael Fassbender will star in and co-produce the big screen adaptation of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed. While he will play the lead character, it is unknown whether they will use Altair (Assassin's Creed - 2007), Ezio (Assassin's Creed II - 2009) or Connor (Assassin's Creed III - 2012). The first option seems most likely, especially as the site describes the plot as revolving, "around a man who learns his ancestors were trained assassins after he is kidnapped by a secret org with ties to the Knights Templar, and sent back in time to retrieve historical artefacts."

"Michael Fassbender was our first choice," said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures. "Michael (Fassbender) is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor." It is thought that in order to maintain a greater level of control, Ubisoft will develop the film themselves, although Sony Pictures may end up distributing. "We're open to re-discuss with the key studios once the production package is finalized," There is currently no details on when Assassin's Creed will begin production or be released.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118056333.html?cmpid=RSS|News|FilmNews

Posted: Mon., Jul. 9, 2012, 4:32am PT
Fassbender fastened to 'Assassin's Creed'
Thesp to star in, co-produce bigscreen adaptation of vidgame
By Marc Graser, Elsa Keslassy

Michael Fassbender will star in and co-produce "Assassin's Creed," the bigscreen adaptation of Ubisoft's videogame franchise, through his DMC Film.

While Fassbender's profile has risen with roles in "X-Men: First Class," "Shame," "Haywire," "Prometheus," and will next be seen in "The Counselor" and "Twelve Years a Slave," thesp also has spent the past year developing films with Conor McCaughan. Together, they produced the short "Pitch Black Heist."

"Assassin's Creed" is the duo's most high-profile project, given that the game is Ubisoft's biggest franchise, selling over 30 million units since 2007. A third "Assassin's Creed" game bows Oct. 30 and is set during the American Revolution. First two take place during the Crusades and Renaissance.

Plot revolves around a man who learns his ancestors were trained assassins after he is kidnapped by a secret org with ties to the Knights Templar, and sent back in time to retrieve historical artifacts.

"Michael Fassbender was our first choice" to play the franchise's iconic hooded hero, said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures. "Michael (Fassbender) is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

Last fall, Ubisoft was in talks with Sony to develop a series of "Assassin's" pics (Daily Variety, Oct. 20, 2011). But the companies have since put negotiations on hold.

Ubisoft execs now plan to stick to their initial plan and develop the film independently in order to maintain greater creative control. Last year, Ubisoft invested in launching UMP, headed by Baronnet, former CEO of Luc Besson's EuropaCorp, to adapt the company's games into films, TV shows and digital projects.

While Sony could still wind up distribing the films, UMP will package the project with a writer and director before resuming talks with the studio.

"We're open to re-discuss with the key studios once the production package is finalized," Baronnet told Variety.

Ubisoft also is looking to raise financing for the tentpole through foreign presales and co-production deals, which again could again involve Sony.

"Whatever the financial model, UMP will limit its risk investment," and will save on production costs by turning to its 26 in-house game studios like Hybride Technologies, to handle visual effects work, Baronnet said.

Ubisoft sees adaptations as a way to turn its games into larger brands that will get the titles in front of more consumers while creating lucrative new revenue sources for the company. One of its first projects is an animated TV series based on the "Raving Rabbids" franchise that will air on Nickelodeon. Ubisoft chief Yves Guillemot also wants to develop films for the games "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" and "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon."

By controlling more of the creative through UMP, Ubisoft hopes it doesn't wind up with another "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," adapted by Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer. Pic earned a disappointing $335 million worldwide, with just $91 million of that in the U.S. last year, ending any franchise dreams.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/assassins-creed-michael-fassbender_n_1658786.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

'Assassin's Creed': Michael Fassbender To Star In Film Adaptation Of Popular Game

The Huffington Post | By Christopher Rosen Posted: 07/09/2012 9:38 am Updated: 07/09/2012 9:39 am

"Assassin's Creed" is one of the most popular video game franchises ever, and now it's headed for the big screen with the hottest actor in Hollywood. Variety reports that Michael Fassbender will produce and star in the film adaptation of the Ubisoft game.

Fassbender would play Desmond Miles, a man whose ancestors were expert assassins. Using some whiz-bang technology, he revisits their memories to find ancient artifacts that could change mankind forever.

So far there have been two "Assassin's Creed" games -- one taking place during the Crusades, the other during the Renaissance -- with a third one set for release in October. (There are also spin-off games in the "Assassin's Creed" franchise, including "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" and "Assassin's Creed: Revelations.")

"Michael Fassbender was our first choice [to play the lead role]," Ubisoft Motion Pictures CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet told Variety. "Michael (Fassbender) is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

Also, busy. Fassbender -- who co-starred in "Prometheus" -- is currently shooting "Twelve Years A Slave," which reunites him with "Shame" director Steve McQueen. He's also playing the lead role in Ridley Scott's "The Counselor," which is set to begin filming this summer. Additionally, Fassbender will reprise his role as Magneto in the "X-Men: First Class" sequel, which could start production at the end of this year. Just when Fassbender -- who was snubbed by the Academy Awards last year for his performance in "Shame" -- will have time to star in "Assassin's Creed" is unclear.

Whenever it happens, though, expect big box office. A 2011 report from VG247.com noted that the "Assassin's Creed" franchise had sold 30 million copies since 2007. If those 30 million copies turn into 30 million tickets sold, "Assassin's Creed" could put itself in some pretty spectacular company at the box office.

For more on "Assassin's Creed," including how Ubisoft plans to finance the film, head over to Variety.

kenami:
Michael Fassbender & Assassin's Creed (and why you should be excited)

Excitement has to be one of the best feelings a human can feel; especially when it’s bought on by something that’s genuinely surprising. Both surprise and excitement would be the best way to describe my feelings towards Michael Fassbender’s latest announcement. Today the actor announced that he’ll be producing, funding (through his company DMC Film), and starring in an onscreen adaptation of Assassin’s Creed through Ubisoft’s new branch Ubisoft Motion Pictures.

Assassin’s Creed is about a character named Desmond Miles who is kidnapped by a company named Abstergo Industries. As the story develops you learn that Desmond has been put right in the middle of a war that’s lasted for centuries between an organization of Assassin’s and the Knight’s Templar. To uncover mysteries of the Assassin Order Desmond goes into a machine called the Animus (think the Matrix and Inception) which transports his consciousness into that of his ancestors from the past and allows him to experience different points in history. In the first story Desmond relives the life of Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, a reckless yet skilled Syrian assassin who uncovers a conspiracy throughout his adventures fighting the Templar order during the Third Crusade.

Now that was quite a bit of paraphrasing but to divulge more into the plot would certainly enter spoiler territory. The main purpose of this is to state that the Assassin’s Creed franchise is a gaming franchise like no other, both in gameplay and story telling. That fact alone makes the prospect of a film adaptation a little less daunting.

But wait Ubisoft Motion Pictures? But isn’t Ubisoft a video game company? Yes they are but they are also entering the film industry by creating film adaption’s of their properties in-house. The goal of this is most likely to finally rid the media world of the stigma that a video game movie will automatically be bad simply on the nature of being based on a video game. Now another Ubisoft property was made into a film, Prince of Persia; the film received generally mild to lukewarm reviews and didn’t do so great at the box office. The story was generally changed quite drastically and Ubisoft has attributed that to a lack of creative control to that. So what’s a company to do after that happens? Well to do it themselves and of course this is the main goal of Ubisoft making a film studio, to develop great stories for the big screen.



Now as I mentioned before the Assassin’s Creed franchise is a video game franchise like no other but I didn’t exactly go into why that is. The series features a very interesting blend of science fiction and history. During the first game this took many gamer’s by surprise due to the science fiction element being a complete surprise (it was practically non-existent in the marketing) and ended up developing a dual perspective on the stories that somehow found a way to come around with each games conclusion. The past, future, and present plays an incredible narrative throughout the series, as do the characters and the sense of urgency with what they’re trying to achieve. The games also lend themselves to films in a great way in terms of visuals, writing, character interaction, plot progression, narrative, and of course; conflict.

So despite all of those positives there will still be others that’ll view of Assassin’s Creed as being just “another video game movie” and that begs the question; what do Michael Fassbender and Ubisoft need to do to set their film apart from that stigma?

1. A solid script. A film can have the best actors, director, cinematographers, and costume designers in the world but it’ll all amount to nothing if the script doesn’t shine where it needs to. Assassin’s Creed not only has the dual storylines going on but also features various revelations as the story progresses, and this only happens more so in later games. For an AC film to work it really needs to compact the story while still staying true to overall plot-lines and character progressions.

2. Expanding on the characters. In my opinion this is the best part of seeing a property being translated onto film is how the characters are handled. Desmond is a cocky yet morally righteous character. The problem in the games is that though Desmond is the main character you never get a sense for who he is and worst, why you should care about him. An AC film should give both fans and movie goers more of an understanding towards Desmond. A film could also greatly improve on Altair who overall is quite a weak character in the first game. Fassbender has proven that he can play both radical and subtly emotional characters so if he were to play Altair then I am more then certain he’d do a grand job.

3. Refining the narrative. The first Assassin’s Creed game is quite cerebral. You’re instantly tossed into Desmond’s shoes so fast that you (as a player) automatically end up putting yourself in his shoes rather then experiencing him as a character. This works well as a game (think of the Half Life and Halo franchises) but for a film this could definitely be quite confusing. An AC film needs to be able to showcase the motivation of our characters, the urgency of what they’re trying to do, and most importantly how each revelation is an integral part of the stories progression. If Ubisoft and DMC can find writers who understand that then there’s no reason why an AC film can’t work.

4. A director. With funding and pre-production under way a very important puzzle piece is still missing and that’s the director. Fassbender deciding to produce this project leads me to believe he has some interest and passion towards it. Producing a film requires a lot of time and investment and with Fassbender deciding to work closely with Ubisoft leaves me to believe he shares a passion for the property. That’s great and gives me hope but something that’ll make or break this is the choice of director. Many factors come into play when directing a film but what AC needs to be a success is a director who can pace a story well, work very well with actors, and adapt a story in a way that will appease both movie goers and fans of the game. Now that doesn’t mean it has to be the EXACT same story as the first game, especially since AC has a plot that at times skirts on convoluted waters. Seeing how a filmmaker will address those areas will be interesting.

5. A great cinematographer. This is key for a successful Assassin’s Creed film. One of the best aspects of the games is how Ubisoft will take a city or landscape and rebuild it in such a grand way. The company will spend month’s of researching and photographing various buildings, streets, and rivers to re-create them for gamer’s. Exploring the cities of Assassin’s Creed is always a mind-blowing experience, even after replaying the game many times. An AC film needs to make the viewer feel entirely immersed within the setting and make the viewer say “wow” throughout its run-time. Hopefully this is something we’ll see happen.

Those are pretty much the basics that it’d take to make a great Assassin’s Creed film. Some of you reading will find this to be a pre-requisite for any film and you’d be absolutely right. Despite being based on a video game and an established property I strongly believe that to be both enjoyable and successful an Assassin’s Creed film needs to focus on being a great film first before focusing on being a video game film. What do I mean by this? Think of it this way; after you saw The Dark Knight did you say to yourself that was a great movie or that was a great Batman movie? Did you notice that you say a nearly three hour film that revolved on a man wearing a bat suit? Most likely not. An Assassin’s Creed film doesn’t need to be dark or gritty like Nolan’s Batman film but it certainly should take some notes from that film and simply aim to hit all the notes that it needs to hit.

Well that’s what I had to say on the matter. Assassin’s Creed is my favorite game franchise and the idea of it being translated onto the big screen greatly excites me. Normally the prospect of a video game being turned into a film would be met with apprehension but there are times when you hear about a project and just feel the desire to toss your support towards it. I believe this can shape up to be a really great film and even if it doesn’t turn out that way I hope that by reading this you got to understand why it has the potential to be great. In the end of the day that’s what matters most; potential and of course how it’s executed.



Godspeed Mr. Fassbender!

Thank you for reading! I know most of you follow me because of photography and music but I’m a lover of all media and can’t help but blog about it. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading this and will excited to see what I post in the future. Remember that If you want to experience more of what I have to say than be sure to click the follow button which looks like a cross on the top right corner of this page. Also be sure to follow me on twitter and to check out full galleries of my photography on flickr.

Aw I can’t help but to give some more opinions on this. Ok so it’s been announced that Fassbender will be starring in the film. I think he’d be a great Altair and that he should certainly play him. Fassbender has so much charisma and range that he could really make Altair into a memorable and deep character which is something I feel the games weren’t able to convey. Now with this leads the question as to who should star are Desmond and also who should direct.

In my opinion the right actor for the job would be Sam Witer. Witwer has starred in Dexter, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Smallville, The Mist, and currently plays Aidan on the US version if Being Human. Throughout the shows two seasons he’s showcased not only talent but a great range for a character whose lost, troubled by life, and is put into situations that feel out of his control. Desmond is pretty much all of these things and as I mentioned before an Assassin’s Creed film really needs to make a film goer care about Desmond. Witwer could certainly play the role and in my opinion would be very fitting for the job.



Now there are several directors I’d love to take on the task. On the top of my list are David Fincher, Stephen Sommers, J.J. Abrams, and Gore Verbinski but my number one choice has to be Alfonso Cuarón. The way Cuarón directs actors and subtly manipulates situations is something I’d love to see fused into the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Children of Men showed that he not only knew how to display turmoil within a society but also convey how an average person would fit into it all, it’s a film that’s fingerprinted with so many human moments and strife that can be at times quite profound. But what really makes me believe Cuarón would be the man for the job is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Not only did he understand what needed to be trimmed for the story to flow but he also left his mark on that franchise in such a confident way. He matured the story, showcased more of the setting, and bought out both the massive scope of the story and the really intimate moments, which is the kind of understanding that could make an Assassin’s Creed film something really special.

Also if the team that did the cinematography on the last two Harry Potter films were to also get involved then I think my brain would explode from all the awesome. I mean seriously you cannot watch that film and not be floored at all the incredibly visuals.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/11/ten-reasons-why-michael-fassbender-is-the-man

Ten Reasons Why Michael Fassbender is The Man
Why Michael Fassbender is the best Hollywood actor to don the Assassin's hood.
by Lucy O'Brien
July 10, 2012

It’s hard to name a young working actor in Hollywood with more credibility than Michael Fassbender. The Irish/German thesp has shot up the Hollywood ladder of late thanks to a series of carefully chosen roles appealing to cinephiles and comic fans alike – and with the recent announcement of his role in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed movie, he’s gaining new attention from legions of gamers. Whether you’re a new or an established Fass Fan, here are ten reasons why Michael Fassbender is The Man.

Minor spoilers ahead.

He's Got Style

One can’t deny Fassbender’s almost insistent suaveness. X-Men: First Class showed us the guy can rock a vintage leather jacket, and his subsequent turn as a wealthy New Yorker in 2011 drama Shame proved he can turn any look into instant cool. For a franchise drenched in as much lavish style as Assassin's Creed, the recent GQ Magazine cover boy couldn't be more suited to don the hood.

He Stood Out in a Tarantino Cast

Fassbender's performance as the extremely British Lt. Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 Inglorious Basterds is a stand-out amongst a stand-out cast. It's true that Tarantino traditionally enjoys lengthy speeches from his characters, sometimes to a fault, but Fassbender's wordy French tavern scene is so perfectly executed it comes close to stealing the entire movie. Here was an actor teetering on the edge of stardom, and having a hell of a lot of fun while doing it.

He Survived Jonah Hex

One of Fassbender’s rare career missteps was as a secondary villain opposite Josh Brolin’s hero in the 2010 Western Jonah Hex. After the film was released to fairly terrible reviews, Fassbender shrugged off his involvement in an interview, quipping “Pretty awful, was it? I haven’t seen it myself.” He followed Jonah up with a performance in 2011’s critical darling Jane Eyre, for which he won numerous awards.

Even Charlize Theron Loves Him

In an infamous - brilliantly infamous - case of foot in mouth, Charlize Theron couldn’t help but reference Fassbender’s, uh, assets in Shame at the 2012 Human Rights Campaign Gala. “I have to say that I was truly impressed that you chose to play it big,” said Theron, after accepting an award from Fassbender. “Most other actors would have gone small, trust me. No, I know, because I've worked with them."

He was the Best Part of Prometheus

Starring in what was, no doubt, the most highly anticipated sci-fi of the year, Michael Fassbender managed to steal the show under the noses of the rest of Prometheus' considerable cast. His android David is a multi-faceted creation, swinging between cool detachment and voracious curiosity like a sinister child, his mimicry of Peter O’ Toole unsettling in its ‘not quite rightness.’ While the unfulfilled ambitions of Prometheus disappointed many, few can argue that Fassbender’s turn wasn’t utterly spellbinding.

He’s Versatile

Fassbender’s starring roles to date have included a sex-addict (Shame), a super-villain (X-Men: First Class), an Irish hunger striker (Hunger) and an android (Prometheus). He's the king of reinvention, in part thanks to an ear for accents, a curiously malleable face and, like contemporary Christian Bale, a commitment to changing his body drastically for a part (he undertook the infamous 300 training regimen, for example, and dropped 40 pounds for his role in Hunger.) But it’s his ability to turn these roles into something unexpected every time, which makes The Fass more than the sum of his parts.

He’s Unafraid to Tackle Tricky Subjects

Fassbender’s turn as a sex-addicted New Yorker in Shame is one of the more courageous performances by a mainstream actor in recent memory. This is a film where Fassbender (literally) bares everything, his horror-stricken grimaces in some of Shame’s, ahem, more climactic moments painfully intimate. His performance is so accomplished that director Steve McQueen publicly determined America was ‘too scared of sex,’ after Fassbender failed to be nominated for an Academy Award.

He was a Great Magneto

Fassbender brought just the right amount of steely intensity to Magneto in X-Men: First Class. His Magneto is unassuming and chilling; a man who draws steel fillings out of teeth with a debonair air more evocative of Connery’s Bond than a super-villain. It’s testament to his performance that he beat out Lord Voldemort and Loki in the Favorite Villain category in IGN’s 2011 Summer Movie Awards, described at the time as stealing scenes with ‘savvy understatement, physical grace and brooding menace.’

He’s Got Cred

At the announcement that Fassbender was donning the Assassin’s Hood, the Internet went wild on a familiar theme: ‘WILL FASSBENDER KILL THE VIDEO GAME TO MOVIE CURSE?” The hysteria is somewhat understandable; Fassbender is an actor of a caliber one rarely sees in video game adaptations. That said, Bob Hoskins starred in Super Mario Bros., and look where that got everyone.

He's Co-producing Assassin’s Creed

While his starring role in Ubisoft’s upcoming Assassin’s Creed movie is an exciting prospect, his investment as a co-producer through his own DMC Film label is more intriguing. Little of the history behind the decision has been made public, but the move suggests a confidence in both the franchise and the creative control behind the film one rarely sees in usual ‘gamer-for-pay’ star turns.

What do you guys think of Michael Fassbender's casting in the Assassin's Creed Movie? Let us know in the comments.

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/10/22/assassins-creed-michael-fassbender-movie/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entertainmentweekly%2Fmovie-critics+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+The+Movie+Critics%29

Oct 22 2012 12:22 PM ET

Michael Fassbender's 'Assassin's Creed' movie one step closer to production, as Ubisoft partners with New Regency
by Darren Franich

Videogame publisher Ubisoft has been developing a film based on Assassin’s Creed, the critically-acclaimed videogame franchise known for its historically accurate Renaissance politics and for its rotating cast of sad-eyed roof-jumping ninja monks. Over the summer, Ubisoft announced that it was officially partnering with possible superhuman Michael Fassbender to play the lead in the movie — although given that Assassin’s Creed takes place across several time periods, it was entirely possible that Fassbender was playing multiple characters, each with their own unique accent and rippling six-pack. But although Fassbender’s Assassin’s Creed sounded good in theory — especially when you nicknamed it Fassassin’s Creed in your head — it seemed unlikely that the movie would ever get made. The last time a videogame company took such an active role in the creation of a game adaptation, it was with Microsoft’s Halo movie, which had a producer (Peter Jackson) and a director (Neill Blomkamp) and a writer (Alex Garland) and a pair of studios (Universal, 20th Century Fox) — indeed, everything a movie could possibly need, except for an actual movie.

But Assassin’s Creed is still in motion. Today, Ubisoft announced an official partnership with New Regency, the production company behind Man on Fire, Love & Other Drugs, and Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming Noah. New Regency also produced next year’s 12 Years a Slave, which stars Fassbender. In a press release, Ubisoft CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet said, “Bringing aboard New Regency’s renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that Assassin’s Creed will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the video game franchise.”

It’s unclear whether the film would be an adaptation of the first Assassin’s Creed — which follows an assassin in the Middle East during the Crusades, a setting that could be a bit controversial — or the more popular Assassin’s Creed II, which is set in 15th Century Italy and features lovable sidekick Leonardo da Vinci.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061053#.UIXHn_sJCKU.tumblr


Posted: Mon., Oct. 22, 2012, 6:00am PT
New Regency, Fox partner on Ubisoft's 'Assassin's Creed'
Companies will co-produce, distribute game adaptation to star Michael Fassbender
By Marc Graser
Michael Fassbender

Fassbender
The “Assassin’s Creed” games have sold more than 38 million units worldwide since 2007.

The “Assassin’s Creed” games have sold more than 38 million units worldwide since 2007.
After securing Michael Fassbender to play the hooded hero in the bigscreen version of "Assassin's Creed," Ubisoft has set up the film adaptation of its biggest franchise at New Regency and Fox.

The French gamemaker will work closely to develop and co-produce the pic with New Regency, while Fox will distrib the film.

Fassbender's involvement helped open the doors to both companies through his roles in the reboot of the "X-Men" franchise, "Prometheus," "Shame" and "12 Years a Slave." Ubisoft inked a deal with Fassbender to star and co-produce "Assassin's Creed" this summer (Daily Variety, July 9).

New Regency president and CEO Brad Weston said working with Fassbender on Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" made the partnership on "Assassin's Creed" "more irresistible." "We wanted to do everything we could to secure the rights to 'Assassin's Creed,' which Ubisoft has maintained with such care and quality over the years," he said.

Ubisoft hopes to have the "Assassin's Creed" pic packaged, with a helmer, cast and script, by next summer, according to Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures.

Plot revolves around a man who learns his ancestors were trained assassins after he is kidnapped by a secret org with ties to the Knights Templar and sent back in time to retrieve historical artifacts.

Although financial terms were not disclosed, New Regency will finance part of the pic's production -- participation Ubisoft was seeking so it doesn't have to shoulder much of the risk as it ventures into filmmaking.

"We want to be sure that we're not taking too much of a risk but that we're still very involved on the creative side," Baronnet said.

While many game-to-film adaptations are strictly licensing pacts, with the gamemaker having little say in how the film is developed, Ubisoft is taking a more hands-on approach with "Assassin's Creed."

In addition to preserving elements of the game that make up its DNA, like the design of its characters and historical elements, it hopes to tie in the release of a film with a new game launch.

"We don't want to make games just for the sake of movies," Baronnet said. "We want to make them in concert with the games."

Company launched Ubisoft Motion Pictures in January 2011 to turn its games, which also includes the"Raving Rabbids" and "Tom Clancy's Spinter Cell" and "Ghost Recon" franchises, into larger revenue streams through TV shows and films. Nickelodeon and France Televisions will air the "Rabbids" TV series next year. It wanted more control over its adaptations after "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" stumbled with Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney. It went on to earn $335 million worldwide, just $91 million of it coming from the U.S.

Timing of the "Assassin's Creed" film's development comes as Ubisoft is releasing the American Revolution-themed "Assassin's Creed III" on Oct. 30.

Launched in 2007, the "Assassin's Creed" games have sold more than 38 million units worldwide and spun off comicbooks, Facebook games, novels, short films and toys and collectibles.

"Ubisoft chose to partner with New Regency because they are a talent and filmmaker-driven company, with the same independent and creative mindset that we have at Ubisoft Motion Pictures," Baronnet said. "Bringing aboard New Regency's renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that 'Assassin's Creed' will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the videogame franchise."

After the upcoming thriller "Broken City," with Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe, New Regency has comedy "The Internship," "12 Years a Slave," "Runner, Runner" with Fox and "Noah" with Paramount set to bow.

Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

http://thefilmstage.com/news/michael-fassbender-jumps-from-12-years-a-slave-to-assassins-creed-with-new-regency/

Michael Fassbender Jumps from ’12 Years a Slave’ To ‘Assassin’s Creed’ With New Regency
Posted by Jack Cunliffe, on October 22, 2012 at 10:02 am

After jumping into the world of comic books and graphic novels with films like 300, Jonah Hex and X-Men: First Class, Michael Fassbender is set to dive headfirst into the videogame arena, and even to a further extent than those films. This summer, not only was it revealed that the Shame and Inglourious Basterds star would be leading an adaptation of the Ubisoft hit game Assassin’s Creed, but he would also be producing what is aiming to be a major tentpole.

We’ve now got an update that things are moving forward, as a press release indicates that Ubisoft has linked up with New Regency (coming off the Fassbender-led and Steve McQueen-directed 12 Years a Slave) to co-finance and produce with distribution coming from 20th Century Fox. Producers plan to have a script, full cast and director all set by next summer which hints at a 2014 or 2015 release at the earliest. Check out a quote from Ubisoft CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet below.

“Ubisoft chose to partner with New Regency because they are a talent- and filmmaker-driven company, with the same independent and creative mindset that we have at Ubisoft Motion Pictures. Bringing aboard New Regency’s renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that Assassin’s Creed will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the video game franchise.”

With Fassbender working on a batch of independent projects like Terrence Malick‘s next film and Lynne Ramsay‘s Jane Got a Gun (both with Natalie Portman), his only other blockbuster on the horizon is X-Men: Days of Future Past, so I look forward to seeing what he can also do behind the camera here. If anyone could, perhaps Fassbender will deliver our first genuinely great videogame movie.

Are you looking forward to Fassbender’s Assassin’s Creed?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/assassins-creed-michael-fassbender-starring-381518


OCT
22
2 DAYS
Michael Fassbender to Star in 'Assassin's Creed' Film for New Regency, Ubisoft
8:06 AM PDT 10/22/2012 by Jordan Zakarin

The hit video game franchise is coming to the big screen as the game company's film arm partners with the indie production company.

Michael Fassbender will stoke revolutions as he travels across time and continents on Ubisoft and New Regency's dime.

The German-Irish actor is set to topline the adaptation of the hit video game franchise Assassin's Creed, which is moving toward production after developer Ubisoft's film and TV division announced a partnership with New Regency on Monday. The series, which features a man traveling back in time to operate in the shadows of various historical events, has sold 38 million units of its four games since the franchise launched in 2007.

"Bringing aboard New Regency’s renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that Assassin’s Creed will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the video game franchise," Ubisoft Motion Pictures CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet said in a statement.

Fassbender just wrapped work on New Regency's Twelve Years a Slave, which he made with his Hunger and Shame director Steve McQueen. Largely an indie film actor, he has one other franchise under his belt, as he stars as Magneto in the X-Men series reboot. He also featured in Ridley Scott's Prometheus this summer.

New Regency has the Mark Wahlberg thriller Broken City and the Owen Wilson-Vince Vaughn comedy The Internship on the way.

http://www.newsarama.com/film/assassins-creed-fassbender-regency-movie.html

ASSASSIN'S CREED Starring Michael Fassbender Go at Regency
By Lucas Siegel, Newsarama Site Editor
posted: 22 October 2012 11:39 am ET

Video game movies don't have the best track record, but that isn't stopping Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the film and TV division of the game publisher, from moving forward and seeking to change peoples' minds with a live-action film based on the Assassin's Creed series.

With Michael Fassbender already attached to star in the film, today Ubisoft announced a partnership with New Regency, a "talent- and filmmaker-driven company with the same independent and creative mindset," said Jean-Julien Baronnet, chief executive officer of Ubisoft Motion Pictures in a press release. The partnership includes production and distribution for the film, which is moving forward with "immediate" screenplay development.

The Assassin's Creed film is the latest branch-out of the series. With four console titles and a fifth on the way October 30, 2012, plus multiple mobile and portable games, the franchise has also seen two comic book series, multiple action figures, apparel, a series of live-action shorts, and an animated short film. No timeframe for the film was given.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/assassins-creed-movie-targeting-2013-release/

Assassin’s Creed movie targeting 2013 release
Rick Marshall November 12, 2012 By Rick Marshall

Assassin's Creed 3 roundup

Ubisoft sets ambitious schedule for Assassin's Creed movie starring Michael Fassbender.

Last month we learned that the Assassin’s Creed movie starring Michael Fassbender was being “fast-tracked” through the development cycle thanks to a deal with production and distribution company New Regency, and the latest update on the project indicates that game developer Ubisoft is targeting a 2013 release for the film.

Ubisoft chief sales and marketing officer Geoffroy Sardin mentioned the studio’s intended schedule for the movie in an interview with Games Industry International while discussing all of the different forms the Assassin’s Creed franchise will take across various media in the near future.

“Another thing that is very important for the lifecycle is the transmedia offer,” he said. “All the figurines, the books, the publishing, and we have a movie in the next coming year.”

While last month’s update indicated that work was already underway on the film, a 2013 release still seems a bit ambitious for a project on the scale of Assassin’s Creed — especially one involving a busy, in-demand actor like Fassbender. That we have yet to hear about any additional cast members, producers, or the film’s director only makes a 2013 release that much more impressive of a goal.

X-Men: First Class actor Fassbender was originally announced as the film’s star back in July.

http://www.examiner.com/article/assassin-s-creed-film-to-be-released-2013


Assassin's Creed film to be released in 2013

Video Games
November 12, 2012
By: Laura Borrelli

Ubisoft Motion Pictures is looking to develop their first major feature film based on the award-winning video game series, Assassin's Creed. The film starring Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class, Prometheus) now has a target release for 2013. While many video games are entering their way into Hollywood, Assassin's Creed release is approaching rather quickly. Ubisoft's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Geoffroy Sardin, revealed the date while talking about the future of the franchise in an interview with Games Industry International.

Another thing that is very important for the lifecycle is the transmedia offer. All the figurines, the books, the publishing, and we have a movie in the next coming year. So it's not only about games, we are talking about a global brand, and this is the life cycle management we want to set up now.

View slideshow: Assassin's Creed Promo Images
Assassin's Creed Film
Assassin's Creed Film
Photo credit:
Ubisoft Studios
Assassin's Creed III official launch trailer
Assassin's Creed III official launch trailer Assassin's Creed III official launch trailer

Of course, Sardin's comment could be referring to the production of the film and not its actual release date. The latest news from Ubisoft follows their earlier announcement that they will be partnering with New Regency to develop a feature film based on the hit video game. Ubisoft Motion Pictures chief executive officer Jean-Julien Baronnet commented on why they chose New Regency.

Ubisoft chose to partner with New Regency because they are a talent and filmmaker-driven company, with the same independent and creative mindset that we have at Ubisoft Motion Pictures. Bringing aboard New Regency’s renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that ‘Assassin’s Creed’ will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the video game franchise.

Ubisoft Motion Pictures was founded in January 2011 with the purpose of bringing the company's games to film, television, and the web. In addition to the Assassin's Creed franchise, the studio is also working on full-length movies based on the Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon game franchises.

Assassin's Creed III is the latest game in the franchise and was released on Oct 30 for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. A PC release will follow on Nov. 20, while a Wii U version will be available at the consoles launch on Nov. 18.

http://www.newsarama.com/film/assassins-creed-fassbender-regency-movie.html

ASSASSIN'S CREED Starring Michael Fassbender Go at Regency
By Lucas Siegel, Newsarama Site Editor
posted: 22 October 2012 11:39 am ET
Text Size:

Video game movies don't have the best track record, but that isn't stopping Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the film and TV division of the game publisher, from moving forward and seeking to change peoples' minds with a live-action film based on the Assassin's Creed series.

With Michael Fassbender already attached to star in the film, today Ubisoft announced a partnership with New Regency, a "talent- and filmmaker-driven company with the same independent and creative mindset," said Jean-Julien Baronnet, chief executive officer of Ubisoft Motion Pictures in a press release. The partnership includes production and distribution for the film, which is moving forward with "immediate" screenplay development.

The Assassin's Creed film is the latest branch-out of the series. With four console titles and a fifth on the way October 30, 2012, plus multiple mobile and portable games, the franchise has also seen two comic book series, multiple action figures, apparel, a series of live-action shorts, and an animated short film. No timeframe for the film was given.

http://www.theyoungfolks.com/film/assassins-creed-movie-snags-writer/15965


Assassin’s Creed Movie Snags Writer
Featured Film Gaming News Movie News News Video Games — 20 January 2013

Michael-LesslieUbisoft’s new venture into the film industry has prompted the production of numerous video game adaptations. The Assassin’s Creed film that is currently in development has now recruited a writer into their brotherhood. Michael Lesslie, with little but a few plays to his name, is charged with penning the movie’s script. Earlier this winter, it was confirmed that acclaimed actor Michael Fassbender will be taking the leading role as the protagonist in the Assassin’s Creed film. A director and producers are still looking to be found as Ubisoft continues to collaborate with New Regency.

Ubisoft seems very committed to retaining their creative rights in the film making process. Hopefully this will translate to a more cohesive and coherent story. Video game adaptations have a sour reputation that is fairly well deserved. Only time will tell if Ubisoft’s new approach will set a new standard for the rest of the video game industry.

http://www.fansshare.com/news/michael-fassbender-s-upcoming-assassin-s-creed-film-to-be-titled-rising-phoenix/


Michael Fassbender's upcoming Assassin's Creed film to be titled 'Rising Phoenix'?

There is a lot of nervousness and anticipation for the upcoming Assassin's Creed film, both from fans and those in the industry. While video game movies have yet to really click at the box office, many industry experts are predicting that Assassin's Creed will change the game, due to its massive popularity as a video game and its ubiquitous star, Michael Fassbender. If it does, indeed, 'change the game', that means that another source for films opens up for the studios and producers.

'Assassin's Creed' is still currently in development, with screenwriter Michael Lesslie working on adapting the screenplay for the movie. While Lesslie doesn't have any previous released credits, New Regency Films is banking a lot on this film and making sure that everything falls into place correctly.

Fans are now getting impatient about the progress of the film, and many are wondering if it's been stalled. After all, video game adaptations have traditionally never performed at the box office, and this might not be an exception.

However, Latino Post recently dug up something that could show that not only has the film gone into into accelerated development, but that it might already be in pre-production. They show a leaked image from Ubisoft with a title showing 'Rising Phoenix' under Assassin's Creed. The report argues that it's unlikely that this is the title of another console video game, but it's more likely the title of the upcoming movie. The image seems to be from Ubisoft Digital Arts, which is Ubisoft's cinema creation studio. The reports argues that this means that the title is related to the film, not to the video games.

While it's certainly possible, right now, it doesn't seem probable. The film still doesn't have a release date, and it may seem premature to come up with a title before you have a finalized script. Either way, we'll know about the film soon enough because Michael Fassbender's schedule is starting to pile up, and if he decides to stay on this film, he'll have to shoot it within the next few years or so.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=104453

Assassin's Creed Hitting Theaters Memorial Day 2015
Source: Various Sources , Edward Douglas
May 17, 2013
140 6

A couple of exciting Friday night release date announcements, the biggest one being that the movie based on Ubisoft's popular video game Assassin's Creed, starring Michael Fassbender, will be released over Memorial Day weekend 2015, taking the date of May 22.

So far, no director has been announced for the movie but with a date in place, one would expect that will change shortly. Also, 20th Century Fox has stepped in to distribute one of the more anticipated video game movies in recent years through their deal with co-producer New Regency Pictures. They also have grabbed a date that's wide open with no competing releases although it will open three weeks after Marvel's The Avengers 2 and anyone who knows the general release date for previous "Star Wars" movies might be thinking J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII could be released a week before Memorial Day that same year.

20th Century Fox will also be releasing a very different historic epic as they've set a date for Ridley Scott's next movie, which looks to be his telling of the story of Moses called Exodus. That's been dated for December 12, 2014, but before that date was set, it wasn't clear whether that might be Scott's next movie or not. A few months back, it was reported that Christian Bale was in talks to play the role of Moses although nothing has been confirmed on that end either.

That will open a week before the final chapter of Peter Jackson's latest Tolkien trilogy The Hobbit: There and Back Again. It also gets a jump on Warner Bros.' own planned biblical epic about Moses, Gods and Kings, which doesn't have a director yet.

Lastly, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jason Reitman's adaptation of Joyce Maynard's Labor Day, starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, will be released by Paramount Pictures in select cities on Christmas Day later this year and then will expand into more cities on January 10 of next year before going wide on January 31, 2014.

http://www.slashfilm.com/assassins-creed-starring-michael-fassbender-will-be-unleashed-summer-2015/

‘Assassin’s Creed’ Starring Michael Fassbender Will Be Unleashed Summer 2015

Posted on Friday, May 17th, 2013 by Germain Lussier

Assassin's Creed

Briefly: There’s been a killer addition to the Summer of 2015. Assassin’s Creed, based on the popular Ubisoft video game series, will hit theaters on May 22, 2015. 20th Century Fox is now on board the project which, at this point, only has Michael Fassbender attached to play Desmond Miles, the descendant of a long line of assassins who can relive the memories of his ancestors.

At this point, no other film is schedule on that date but, if Star Wars Episode VII comes out on its traditional Summer weekend, it’ll be going up against this film.

Michael Lesslie is writing the screenplay. No director is attached but with a release date two years away from next weekend, you can expect that to change soon. [Coming Soon]