Since its debut in 2007, Assassin’s Creed has grown into one of Ubisoft’s crown jewels, selling over 200 million copies worldwide. With its signature blend of time-travel adventures, historical conspiracies, and iconic hooded protagonists, the franchise has captivated a devoted fanbase. Yet, the journey hasn’t always been smooth—some entries received mixed reviews, leaving players hoping for a stronger narrative arc. The recent release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set in feudal Japan, signaled a welcome return to form, reigniting excitement around the series.
Ubisoft has long attempted to expand Assassin’s Creed beyond video games into other media—comics, manga, animated series, and board games. However, the brand’s first major live-action leap, the 2016 film starring Michael Fassbender, was a critical and commercial disappointment. Fassbender’s subdued performance and a convoluted plot failed to connect with audiences, leaving many to question the viability of Assassin’s Creed on screen.
Now, Ubisoft is placing a big bet on Netflix to revive the franchise with a new live-action series. Announced with fanfare in 2020 and rebooted in 2023, this series is gaining momentum, with a talented team of showrunners and writers finally coming together.
A Dream Team (Almost) Behind the Assassin’s Creed Series
According to insider reports, Netflix’s Assassin’s Creed series boasts an impressive writers’ room led by showrunners Roberto Patino (Westworld, DMZ) and David Wiener (Halo, Homecoming). Supporting them is a diverse group of seasoned writers including Claire Kiechel (The Acolyte), Jaquén Castellanos (The Affair), Sanaz Toossi (A League of Their Own), Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven), Sam Reynolds (The Walking Dead: World Beyond), and others.
This eclectic mix of talent suggests a careful balancing act—blending existential drama, dystopian sci-fi, intense action, and sprawling historical narratives. After all, these elements define what fans expect from Assassin’s Creed.
Netflix, with its growing slate of adaptations like Devil May Cry and Castlevania, is clearly aiming to replicate the success of The Witcher—a fantasy series that tapped into an existing passionate fanbase and expanded through spin-offs. However, unlike The Witcher’s unified literary source, Assassin’s Creed spans various timelines, characters, and storylines, making adaptation a far more complex challenge. Success will depend heavily on a clear creative vision and a bold narrative approach rather than simply catering to die-hard gamers.
Ubisoft’s Expanding Media Universe
Beyond Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft is actively developing multiple live-action projects through Ubisoft Film & Television. Upcoming adaptations include Beyond Good & Evil, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, and The Division—the latter also a Netflix collaboration. Surprisingly, even the dance game Just Dance and the extreme sports title Riders Republic have live-action adaptations in the works, highlighting Ubisoft’s ambition to diversify its media presence.
What to Expect and When
The Assassin’s Creed series is currently slated for release sometime between 2025 and 2026. Yet, given the lengthy process just to assemble the writing team, timelines may be flexible—more elusive than an assassin hidden in a chest.
At this stage, the project is still in preproduction with no casting announcements, leaving fans eager but cautious. If Ubisoft and Netflix manage to harness the rich potential of the Assassin’s Creed universe, the new series could finally offer the adaptation that the loyal community has been waiting for.
