Michael Fassbender Leaps Into Ancient Action in Latest 'Assassin's Creed' Trailer
Even the most generous fan will concede that most movies based on video games have been underwhelming at best. Can Assassin’s Creed, the adaptation of Ubisoft’s popular interactive series about an organization of killers pitted, throughout history, against a tyrannical group known as the Templars, change that perception? The film’s new trailer (watch it above) once again positions the film as the start of a potential cinematic franchise for its star, Michael Fassbender.
Related: Michael Fassbender: ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Is Like ‘The Matrix’
First, however, Assassin’s Creed will have to sell audiences on its somewhat out-there premise, in which an inmate (Fassbender) has his consciousness transported back to the 15th century, where he embodies one of his ancient ass-kicking ancestors, courtesy of a sci-fi device known as the “Animus.” That setup may elicit more than a few guffaws — and yet, the footage released so far of Fassbender’s cloaked hero running across and leaping from rooftops and other towering structures to battle his adversaries seems like it may well deliver the adrenalized goods.
Related: 9 Video Game Movies in the Works: Ranking Their Prospects
Directed by Fassbender’s Macbeth helmer Justin Jurzel, and with a distinguished cast including Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Brendan Gleeson, Assassin’s Creed will counter Rogue One’s sci-fi adventure with some truly old-school action when it debuts in theaters on Dec. 21.
Four reasons video game film adaptations may one day be as big as comic-book movies:
