"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.
[via Variety]
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