Michael Fassbender talks ASSASSINS' CREED movie

When it comes to feature film video game adaptations, just outright assuming that they will suck like a black hole is probably a good policy to avoid disappointment. But it’s pretty tough to stick to that policy and not get excited when the video game is Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed” and the person attached to produce and star in it is Michael Fassbender. That being said though, some of that early buzz has turned to concern, as we’re now less than a year away from the film’s already rescheduled release date, and have not heard anything about the project in a long time.

Luckily, IGN managed to hook up with Fassbender, who confirmed that despite some rumours that have popped up – saying that he had ditched the film due to unhappiness with the script – everything is still on track for the film.

“I know, I love these rumors! It’s fantastic. People talk about it, and they’re hopefully interested. Nothing has changed, yeah. I’m still a part of Assassin’s Creed, and we’re working on the script as we speak. Actually, I’m going to go back and see the writers when I get back to Europe.”

Assassins’ Creed has a gigantic mythology (if you include the mobile games, the franchise now already boasts 18 titles) that stretches from the dawn of man to the Middle Ages to the near future, so the verdict is still out on exactly what would be adapted for the movie. The game is told from the perspective of Desmond Miles, a character living in the near future who discovers that his ancestors, a group of Assassins, have been engaged in a centuries long war with the secretive Templar organization who wants to control the world, mostly through the use of some powerful artifacts left behind by an ancient, godlike race that predates humans. Desmond is able to relive his ancestors’ exploits through a machine called the Animus, which taps into his DNA memory.

 

This potentially means that the feature film could potentially focus on any of these ancestors (I would love to see them flesh out some of the later years of the hero of the first game, Altair). Fassbender didn’t give out any story specifics, but he did explain that they will stay as true to the story as possible. And also kind of wouldn’t.

“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.”

For Assassin’s Creed, Fassbender would be reteaming with Justin Kurzel (The Snowtown Murders, The Turning), who recently directed him in a feature film adaptation Macbeth. Kurzel is mainly known for indie dramas, and not a big scale action blockbuster like this, which naturally has left some fans a little doubtful, but Fassbender has nothing but good things to say about the young Australian filmmaker.

“I just think that there’s one thing Justin should be doing, and that’s directing. I know that from working with him on Macbeth. He’s just fantastic in terms of his vision. Adam [Arkapaw], the DP that he works with, is amazing. They’ve got a great shorthand — that’s essential. He’s fantastic with actors and each department. He’s a real heavyweight.”

Well, we have less than a year to see if this heavyweight can knock fans out. That’s if the film doesn’t get delayed. Again.

Last Updated: August 11, 2014