The live-action movie based on the Assassin’s Creed game franchise has been in the works for so long now that many had wondered whether it would ever find its way to theaters. Now 20th Century Fox and New Regency have offered visual proof that the film is not only happening, but that star (and producer) Michael Fassbender is getting comfortable in his role as a member of a mysterious guild of assassins.
The first image from Assassin’s Creed debuted on Yahoo Movies (see below) and features Fassbender suited up as Aguilar, a member of the secret organization, in 15th century Spain.
Fassbender plays a dual role in the upcoming film, portraying both a modern-era character named Callum Lynch and his character’s ancestor, Aguilar. The film’s official synopsis reads as follows:
Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences 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.
The characters played by Fassbender in the film are original creations for the movie, which is based on the mythology of the game franchise but not directly lifted from any installment’s storyline.
Encompassing nine major titles and a long list of spinoff and tie-in releases, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has sold more than 73 million copies as of April 2014.
Along with Fassbender, the film co-stars Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard (The Dark Knight Rises, La Vie en Rose), Michael Kenneth Williams (12 Years a Slave), and Ariane Labed (Before Midnight). Fassbender’s director on the upcoming big-screen adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Justin Kurzel, is also directing the Assassin’s Creed movie. Filming is expected to begin soon in Malta, London, and Spain.
Assassin’s Creed is scheduled to hit theaters worldwide December 21, 2016.
