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Assassin's Creed movie pushed back, new date undisclosed
The Assassin's Creed movie won't hit cinemas on August 7, 2015 as planned, after Twentieth Century Fox removed the big screen adaptation from next year's summer schedule. As Variety reports, Fox didn't set a new date for the film, with reshuffles instead seeing Marvel's long-speculated Deadpool movie greenlit for February 12, 2016. Word of a film based on Ubisoft's historical series first slipped out of the shadows in 2012, with Promethius and X-Men star Michael Fassbender revealed as the leading man. Two years on and details remain sparse. There were couple of changes on the screenwriting staff, with Adam Cooper and Bill Collage understood to be currently rewriting the script. The pair worked on Accepted and Tower Heist, and are currently penning words for Ridley Scott's upcoming Exodus: Gods and Kings among others. Hollywood Reporter notes that, according to "Fox insiders," Assassin's Creed is expected to makes its silver screen debut in 2016. [Image: Ubisoft]
Ubisoft teams with Sony Pictures for feature-length Rabbids movie
We've known for a while that Ubisoft was planning to bring the manic, mush-mouthed Rabbids to the silver screen, but we now learn that the gaming giant has tapped Sony Pictures to aid in the attempt. "Sony Pictures has tremendous experience developing hybrid live-action-and-animated blockbusters for audiences around the world, which makes them a natural fit for what we want to achieve with a Rabbids film," said Ubisoft Motion Pictures executive director Jean-Julien Baronnet in an announcement this morning. "This deal deepens our partnership with Sony Pictures and highlights our holistic approach to bringing Ubisoft's brands to new audiences while still maintaining the brands' creative integrity." This Rabbids film is only the latest effort by Ubisoft to break into the motion picture business via the publisher's popular video game characters. Last August we reported on a deal between Ubisoft and Sony Pictures to develop a film based on the Watch Dogs franchise, while a Ghost Recon film is currently in the early stages of production under the watchful eye of producer and noted explosion aficionado Michael Bay. There is currently no word on when the as-yet unnamed Rabbids film will debut, nor any information on its cast and crew. [Image: Ubisoft]
Ubisoft partners with Sony, New Regency on Watch Dogs movie
Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the film wing at the Ubisoft estate, has announced a new movie based on upcoming game Watch Dogs. The film, called a thriller in the announcement, is being developed in collaboration with Sony Pictures and New Regency Productions. If this all sounds familiar, it's because Ubisoft has a similar deal with New Regency in place for the upcoming Assassin's Creed film starring Michael Fassbender. No casting choices for the upcoming Watch Dogs film have been announced.
The Wolverine, Minority Report scribe rewriting Assassin's Creed movie
The screenplay for the forthcoming Assassin's Creed movie, which was originally penned by English playwright Michael Lesslie, is being rewritten by screenwriter Scott Frank, whose previous authorial credits include The Wolverine, Minority Report and Marley & Me. He also wrote one episode of The Wonder Years in 1988, apparently. "I'm rewriting Assassin's Creed right now, and what I love about it is that I've never adapted a video game before and it has its own set of challenges," Frank told Creative Screenwriting. "Especially in the world of rewrites, I love trying to do something completely different if I can. That's how Marley & Me happened." Assassin's Creed is currently slated to hit theaters on June 19, 2015, according to Box Office Mojo.
Report: Assassin's Creed movie to open in May of 2015
New Regency Films and Ubisoft Motion Pictures' Assassin's Creed movie collaboration will hit theaters May 22, 2015, according to Box Office Mojo. Starring Michael Fassbender, the movie concerns "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," according to a Variety report last year. We're guessing this release date means that Ubisoft is going to continue to ignore our repeated (and might we add, quite generous) offers to write the film as a reimagined version of You've Got Mail.
Ubisoft hires English playwright to pen Assassin's Creed screenplay
The Assassin's Creed movie is getting some backstage class by tapping English playwright Michael Lesslie to adapt the screenplay. Lesslie's previous writing work includes Prince of Denmark, which was performed at the National Theatre in 2012, short films such as Skirt, and an acclaimed adaptation of the memoir War Reporting for Cowards.Michael Fassbender, recently known as Magneto in X-Men: First Class and the robot David in Prometheus, is set to star in and co-produce the Assassin's Creed film. In October, Ubisoft Motion Pictures tagged New Regency as a partner on the movie. We're pretty shocked at all the public information about this film; for some reason, we assumed the whole thing would be more stealthy.
Assassin's Creed movie in 'next coming year', says Ubisoft executive [update]
The Assassin's Creed movie might be coming sooner than we thought, at least according to an Ubisoft executive. Speaking to GamesIndustry International, Ubisoft chief sales and marketing officer Geoffroy Sardin said the film is set for "the next coming year."It's one of those beautifully vague phrases that's hard to interpret. Does he mean 2013, or a year from now, or literally the next coming year i.e. 2014, not 2013? Thing is, a 2013 release seems unlikely given work on the screenplay only began last month.Then again, Ubisoft may be confident of an impending release on the back of its recent partnership with New Regency. The publisher said then the project is being fast-tracked, and Sardin's comment would back that up. Maybe we shouldn't be surprised if the next time we see Assassin's Creed on the big screen, it isn't (just) in the adverts.Update: Ubisoft tells G4 an Assassin's Creed movie is in fact not coming in 2013. The official statement says Sardin was referring only to "further development on the film taking place next year." It goes on to shoot down any discussion of a possible timeframe.
Ubisoft working with New Regency to produce Assassin's Creed film
The Assassin's Creed feature film has taken one more sneaky baby step toward production: Ubisoft Motion Pictures has picked a partner company. New Regency Productions, which names Fight Club, Free Willy and Mr. and Mrs. Smith among its works, will partner with Ubisoft on the film, beginning with the development of a screenplay.If you're a Michael Fassbender fan (a Fanbender?) you might be relieved to hear that the deal was expedited by the attachment of Fassbender to the project – which suggests that both parties will do their best to keep him there. The companies declined to talk about money, so we don't know what kind of financial resources are also gluing the two companies together.
Fassbender's Assassin's Creed character not necessarily Desmond
Today's news about the often spoken of but never seen Assassin's Creed film adaptation brought word that Prometheus star Michael Fassbender is playing the starring role (Fassbender's DMC Film is also being tapped for co-production). Between his leading man role and the film's description – "a man who learns his ancestors were trained assassins after he is kidnapped by a secret org with ties to the Knights Templar ... [is] sent back in time to retrieve historical artifacts" – it sounded to many like Fassbender would be taking up the role of Desmond Miles, franchise leading man. Not so fast, says Ubisoft."Fassbender will play the lead role, but it's too soon to say exactly which character that will be," a Ubi rep told us. Though all signs point to Fassbender playing Miles, the various media surrounding the Assassin's Creed franchise has shied away from focusing on the modern American assassin. Comic book series "The Fall" instead follows Daniel Cross, a Templar sleeper agent, through his family history in the Russian Revolution and beyond. Assassin's Creed: Lineage similarly focused on a backstory – Assassin's Creed 2 protagonist Ezio Auditore's father, Giovanni Auditore – rather than on Desmond."The storyline isn't bound by a certain era or even a set of characters," the Ubi rep added. "That kind of freedom gives us great flexibility in creating the movie." Which isn't to say that the film will be a Uwe Boll-esque takeoff on the game series. Like all things Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft is treading carefully so as not to anger longtime fans. "We're also taking the responsibility of maintaining fidelity with the overall story and brand very seriously," the rep said.There's no planned launch window for the Assassin's Creed film, but Ubisoft Motion Pictures is maintaining creative control over the whole process. Michael Fassbender's DMC Film is collaborating with UMP, but Ubi retains rights to who's directing and who's writing the script.
Michael Fassbender starring in and co-producing Assassin's Creed film
When he's not playing a cold, conniving artificial man, Michael Fassbender is sharpening his hidden blade (and his hidden check book). Not because he's way into hidden knives (he isn't, as far as we know), but because he'll be playing the starring role in an upcoming Assassin's Creed film adaptation, says Variety.Fassbender's company DMC Film is co-producing the film as well, teaming up with Ubisoft Motion Pictures. It's unclear which part of the game's canon will form the basis of the film, if any. Variety says 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," which sounds like a game revolving around Desmond to us. It also sounds like the basic root of the entire game franchise, so ... do with that what you will.The new deal with Fassbender's DMC Film helps to put Ubi's previous Sony talks to bed. Talks last November apparently fizzled, though Ubi is still open to "re-discuss" things "once the production package is finalized." Ubisoft Motion Pictures will hire the project's director and writer before getting involved with any third parties – a response to the lackluster reception Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time got at the box office, which Ubi apparently attributes (at least in part) to a lack of creative control over its own property.[Pictured: Filming of Assassin's Creed: Lineage]
Report: Assassin's Creed movie deal gives Ubi too much power, puts movie in danger
Sony Pictures is working on a deal with Ubisoft to secure the film rights to Assassin's Creedd; however, Vulture reports that the deal Ubisoft got is so heavily Ubisoft-leaning that it may make the film impossible to actually finish. The deal grants Ubisoft approval over most aspects of the film, including budget, cast, script, and even release date. "As a director, even Steven Spielberg cannot get this kind of deal," Vulture was told by an "insider" who didn't really need to stay anonymous for that. With Ubisoft in charge, and retaining the right to stop production at any time, there seems to be a concern among the interviewed studio heads that Ubisoft would do just that if it didn't like what it was seeing -- or that it would continue to make demands too demanding for any movie studio to deal with.
Sony registers a slew of Assassin's Creed movie domains
Still no word on whether Sony has managed to finalize its buzz-generating deal with Ubisoft Motion Pictures to create a movie franchise based on the adventures of Desmond and friends, but it looks as though the entertainment megalith is feeling pretty good about the situation, based on a massive list of registered web domains unearthed by Fusible. The 16 domains in question were registered by Sony Pictures on October 20, a day before news of the potential partnership found its way to the blogosphere via Variety. While indicative of Sony's confidence in the deal, purchasing the domains will prove to be a shrewd business move either way: Even if things do fall through, Sony will be able to eventually sell the domains for a phat wad.
Report: Ubisoft close to Assassin's Creed film deal with Sony
One of the rare video game properties that we think could make a pretty good movie seems to be moving forward. Variety reports that Sony is close to inking a deal with Ubisoft Motion Pictures to create a film franchise based on the Assassin's Creed series. It's reportedly the climax of a months-long bidding war between Sony and other studios like Universal. With Ubisoft's policy of maintaining creative control over films based on its games, it's a project we're ... if not excited for, certainly cautiously optimistic about. Our one request? Make Desmond, Altair and Ezio a family of art thieves. After that it's all -- as they say in the biz -- movie gravy.
The Rabbids become TV stars in 2013
Minigames too involved for you? Soon Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids will be able to yell at you without a single waggle on your part. Ubisoft Motion Pictures is producing a series of 78 seven-minute CG cartoons featuring the rude critters, which Nickelodeon will bundle into 26 half-hours for broadcast "worldwide" in 2013. Those should allow you to gauge (to the minute) your tolerance for the Rabbids. The deal excludes France, where France Télévisions Distribution will offer DVD and Video on Demand of the show, alongside episodes broadcast on France 3. And now, because we haven't said it yet: daaaahhhhhh! [Image: Raving Rabbids Alive and Kicking for Xbox 360]
Ubisoft Motion Pictures making Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell flicks
Perhaps all that "playing" of your favorite Ubisoft games was getting tiresome? The French game publisher's film arm, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, told Variety this week that it's working to adapt three of Ubisoft's biggest properties -- Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon -- into "3D features," confirming speculative plans that appeared in a consumer survey last month. UMP head Jean-Julien Baronnet explained that his division "has been working with the games' producers and Ubisoft's marketing team to identify the DNA of each game and come up with storylines that are consistent." He also noted that the group's plans have garnered plenty of interest "from US studios and screenwriters." Further, senior VP of international marketing and distribution Jean de Rivieres promises a script for at least one of the projects "by the end of the year." He and two other UMP execs will be taking a trip to Los Angeles next month in order to broker deals with studios and agents, Rivieres added. In addition to the trio of feature projects, the studio is reportedly developing a 3D, CGI animated series based on the Rabbids property and named after the Raving Rabbids game series. It's said to comprise 78 episodes, at seven minutes apiece, and negotiations are apparently underway to distribute the series in France and the US. [Pictured: Assassin's Creed Lineage (2009 web series) set]
Ubisoft founds motion picture division, vows to keep Jake Gyllenhaal working
Quick show of hands: how many of you like playing video games? And how many of you would like to watch movies based on video games you've played? No doubt slightly more sophisticated market research went into Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the game maker's unique approach to adapting games like Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell for film and TV, meaning we'll finally see movies about assassins. Last year's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time film grossed $335 million worldwide, surely thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal's smoldering yet boyish intensity, and the French game publisher clearly wants a bigger slice of Hollywood pie -- it also recently bought visual effects studio Hybride Technologies. You might as well get in line now for Battle Tag: The Movie.
Ubisoft launching film studio focused on game adaptations
Ubisoft's got its finger in a number of cinematic pies, including the founding of its own CGI studio and the acquisition of special effects company Hybride -- now, the publisher can add its very own film studio to its ... pie safe, we guess. Variety reports the company opened up a division named Ubisoft Motion Pictures in Paris, which will be headed by former EuropaCorp CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet, and will focus on adapting Ubisoft's franchises into films and TV shows. You guys realize what this means, right? We mean, it's pretty obvious. Given the success of last year's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie, they're going to follow it up with a television miniseries based on Smurfs Dance Party. Like, duh.
