The words “Hollywood” and “honesty” have never been synonymous. Clearly, somebody forgot to tell the folks over at French video game publisher Ubisoft who have now stepped into the movie making business with an adaptation of the best-selling franchise Assassin’s Creed.
Speaking to MCV, Ubisofr’s Executive Director for EMEA Alain Corr was very upfront about the fact that the upcoming movie starring Michael Fassbender is probably not going to be a huge box office smash, but that’s okay, because they were always intending it for something else.
We are not going to earn a lot of money from it. It is a lot more a marketing thing. It’s also good for the image of the brand. Although we will make some money, it’s not the purpose of this movie. The purpose is to bring Assassin’s Creed to more people. We have our core fans, but what we would like is to put this franchise in front of a lot more people who, maybe, will then pick up future Assassin’s Creed games.
MERCHANDISING! Oh, Yogurt from Spaceballs would have been so proud! I cannot wait for Assassin’s Creed: The Crossbow to show up in the kids’ toys aisle! But seriously though, this type of honesty certainly is a huge change of pace from the normally very PC, very sanitized Hollywood marketing machine. Unfortunately, said Hollywood marketing machine soon got wind of Corr’s statement and frantically tried to do some damage control. Here’s the official corporate follow-up statement:
Ubisoft’s core vision is to create top quality entertainment and experiences. For the Assassin’s Creed film, we have worked closely with our partners at New Regency and 20th Century Fox as well as the talented cast and production team from the very beginning to ensure we deliver a quality experience to ours fans. We strongly believe the Assassin’s Creed brand has this cross-over appeal that will please both video games fans and movie goers.
Yadda yadda yadda.
Personally, while I really don’t expect Assassin‘s Creed to follow in Warcraft’s box-office record breaking footsteps – it just doesn’t have the massive Chinese appeal that Warcraft did to fuel its earnings – I actually don’t care. I just want a great video game movie. Like, proper good with no “for a video game adaptation” caveats. Is that too much to ask for after decades of attempts at this genre?
On paper at least Assassin’s Creed certainly has the potential to do just that with the aforementioned Oscar-winning Fassbender acting as both producer and star, playing opposite fellow Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, with the two of them being led by their Macbeth director Justin Kurzel. The rest of the cast also boasts the serious talents of Michael K. Williams, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson and more. It is scheduled for release on December 21, 2016.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis along with a new poster that was also released over weekend along with the two new images above.
Based on the Ubisoft game franchise, the Assassin’s Creed movie follows a character by the name of Callum Lynch who, through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, is able to experience the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.
Last Updated: July 11, 2016
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 11, 2016 at 15:19
LOL! Because their current Ass Creed games can’t sell more games.
Captain JJ off track
July 11, 2016 at 16:09
Now I’m imagining Fassbender clipping halfway into the floor and getting stuck like that. 10/10 for good Assassin’s Creed representation 😛
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 11, 2016 at 17:12
XD
geel slang
July 12, 2016 at 09:27
Ja, Unity was a huge kick in the nuts for the franchise.
miaau
July 11, 2016 at 15:22
Again, like with Warcraft, the opportunity exists to make a fantastic movie, great storyline, set in the Assassins Creed universe and style. No need to make this into a movie from a videogame, just look at the video as the source of the universe and some ideas.
Then, in the movie, have some nods to the games, some very subtle, to be spotted by the true fans and paraded on internet sites and others a bit more direct, appeal to the casual gamer. In this way, they might, just might, make a great adventure movie rather than a videogame movie. Proper story, good character development, fun movie, with some Assasins Creed lore buried here and there. Great.
For the Emperor!
July 11, 2016 at 15:57
Truth is spoken. Both franchises have the depth of story and lore to build brilliant movie universes that sits apart from the game Universe. Just like the Marvel movies use the Comics but is a separate entity all together.
The Order of the Banana
July 11, 2016 at 15:25
I still think Assassins Creed would make a great Netflix tv series.
The Order of the Banana
July 11, 2016 at 15:25
PS: When are we getting the Ghostbusters review?
ElFakio
July 11, 2016 at 16:02
In other news grass is green 🙂
Captain JJ off track
July 11, 2016 at 16:06
Wait, will I need to install Uplay on my phone before I can watch this in the cinema?
HairyEwok
July 11, 2016 at 16:08
I think they should send some Assassins Creed games for quality check before making a film.
geel slang
July 12, 2016 at 09:26
Syndicate ran flawlessly for me on PC, rivals Witcher for best looking game imo.
Jarrod Dowell
July 11, 2016 at 16:35
Here’s the deal. They have an opportunity to tell an amazing story here and probably make it trilogy like the 3 games with Ezio. They also have the opportunity to tie the games in with the movie(s), which would only serve to expand the Assassin’s Creed universe. I am glad they chose to create a parallel story that’s deeply rooted in the game’s lore. Obviously there needed to be changes to the Animus and how it works for it to be adapted to the big screen so we’ll just have to take that with a grain of salt. I am excited to see this movie when it comes out and I hope this becomes the standard bearer in the video game/movie cross over universes.
chimera_85
July 12, 2016 at 10:40
Wahahaha no shit, these guys are way worse than EA.