The video game code has never been cracked in cinema. Gamer culture is a juggernaut within the entertainment industry and video games have begun dwarfing movies economically in the last few years. There are many culturally iconic games — Super Mario Bros., Legend Of Zelda, Final Fantasy, etc., to name just a few — but there has never really been one video game adaptation that’s been well received or leveraged the huge brand of a video game to a commensurate success. In fact, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” is the only movie game adaptation that has cracked $100 million in North America and that was back in 2001.
That pattern is set to change, or at least be challenged in 2016 and the next few years as several teams are trying to crack that elusive code. First up in summer 2016 is Legendary Pictures’ “Warcraft” from filmmaker Duncan Jones, but in the fall of this year, an unlikely prestige team is going to try their hand at a video game adaptation. The “Macbeth” team, Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and director Justin Kurzel are going to try and connect audiences to “Assassin’s Creed.” Strangely enough, it’s something that Fassbender helped develop, but he’d never played the game.
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“I’ve played [the game] since mainly to get an idea of the physicality of the character,” he told EW a few months back. “We believe the whole concept around it is special and want to service that the best we can. The fans are really passionate: very specific and they expect accuracy and historical detail. We’re really trying to capitalize and feed on and enjoy the fun element. We’re working hard to make this something special.”
Here’s the official synopsis: 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.
“Assassin’s Creed” also co-stars Brendan Gleeson, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jeremy Irons and Ariane Labed from “Alps” and “The Lobster“. The 20th Century Fox action adventure — you’d never think the creators of “Macbeth” would utter those words — opens in theaters nationwide on December 21, 2016.
Looks good. Seems to capture the game pretty well. The trailer tough is turning me off…that yeezus song threw me out of it
So many people I like, yet so little I want to see.
That has got to be the worst choice of music possible for this trailer. Totally anachronistic and in no way fits. It was so distracting, in fact, that I don’t even know if the movie looks any good.
this looks like crap. Don’t know what the draw was for Fassbender. I said it back when they first posted the set pics that it looked cheap and cheesy and I stand by that assessment after viewing this trailer.