5 Lessons the *Assassin’s Creed* Live-Action Series Can Learn From the Original Movie

In 2017, someone took a seat at their computer and began developing a live-action version of Assassin's Creed—though it seems this computer was actually an Animus, pulling them into the recollections of their forebears for roughly eight years.

It seems they've surfaced from their depths: the live-action Assassin's Creed franchise has been confirmed as a reality on Netflix, led by producers Roberto Patino (known for Westworld) and David Wiener (from Halo). Turning video games into television remains highly sought after, with high-quality series such as The Last of Us and more casual offerings like Fallout proving successful, making Assassins' Creed another logical choice.

Well, I'll tell you two damned words why not: Assassin's Creed Wait, I need three additional words. live-action movie The 2016 movie was not as poor as certain video game adaptations, yet it still fell short of being particularly strong, even with notable production quality and actors such as Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and Jeremy Irons.

I saw it for the very first time not too long ago, and it turned out to be just a series of events unfolding on the screen. I didn’t find much pleasure in it, yet I now hold onto some tips that are all set to be shared. Before Netflix starts working on the live-action television adaptation, here are several things it ought to consider doing—things the film failed to accomplish.

Include some, y'know… stealth

Assassin's Creed goes beyond simply stabbing people in the neck and hiding in haystacks. It focuses on stealth operations. Spying. Monitoring. Observing the specifics of an enclosed area and utilizing that knowledge to move silently across fences, along corridors, around sentries, and into the ideal spot for taking out a target.

Stealth in short, the Assassin's Creed film featured plenty of combat but very little stealth. There were a few instances where the assassins emerged from a group and caught everyone by surprise—but the film never revealed how they managed to get into place. It simply occurred behind the scenes as if by magic.

With a television show, Netflix and Ubisoft have the opportunity and room to develop extended, slow-moving stealth scenes. My hidden hope: an entire episode without any talking, just 50 continuous minutes depicting someone quietly entering a fortress, watching and evading soldiers, eliminating a target, and then slipping away unnoticed. That would be awesome. If not that, at least occasionally include some stealth elements, okay? Amidst everything else they've said. sex and violence , perhaps?

Allocate fewer hours to contemporary times

Long ago, I shared online my dislike for the Animus and Desmond elements in the Assassin's Creed series. Each time I was pulled back into the past and forced to deal with the present, I felt frustrated. The most annoying aspect of the Assassin's Creed games is definitely all the modern-day content.

Even though I was completely right about this, it seems many players like That thing, really, and I should just keep quiet about it. But I have to think that even Animus and Desmond supporters, despite being clearly wrong, would rather the TV show be set in... mostly in the past.

One issue with the film was that it focused far more on the present day rather than the 1400s, and seeing a man wallow in prison (and also dwell on his childhood struggles) became quite tedious. before He ended up in jail) was not nearly as enjoyable as seeing him roam around in a hoodie committing crimes earlier. The series would benefit from including more of the older content rather than focusing so much on new material. I love old stuff .

Don't get overly serious about it Take it with a grain of salt It's not something to be taken literally Lighten up a bit No need to overthink it Relax and enjoy the moment Don't let it bother you so much Just have some fun with it There's no harm in being lighthearted Keep things casual

Michael Fassbender never does anything half-heartedly, whether it's portraying himself using magnetism to shift a satellite dish in one of the X-Men films, or hanging bare-chested from a massive mechanical arm as he feigns stabbing spirits in the Assassin's Creed film. He fully immerses himself!

However, despite its high level of intensity, this approach often brings along excessive seriousness, which contributes to why the Assassin's Creed film lacks enjoyment—it treats everything with an overly grave attitude. The plot revolves around an absurd storyline where someone fakes their own death after killing a pimp, allowing them to connect a device to their spine and relive ancestral memories in order to locate a lost apple from the 1400s. Even Jeremy Irons, typically skilled at transforming poor material into something entertainingly over-the-top, ended up being dull.

I’m not suggesting it has to be full of witty remarks—there are enough of those already—but I would prefer the show to have a more upbeat vibe rather than becoming as grim and somber as an adaptation such as The Last of Us.

Don't reinvent the wheel

There's merit in introducing fresh characters and crafting an original narrative within a well-known environment: the Fallout franchise exemplifies this approach. However, the risk lies in the possibility that these new elements might not measure up to the established content. The Assassin's Creed film serves as an example of this challenge.

Hey, Netflix? Go ahead and choose Ezio! Simply recount Ezio’s tale. It's a strong narrative with plenty of content available, and I think it would turn out better than inventing a completely new protagonist who, honestly, will likely just be yet another white man. Also, Ezio traveled extensively—Italy, Spain, Syria, Istanbul... That's enough for four seasons right there. You're welcome.

Pack it so densely with hidden references that it bursts.

The Assassin's Creed film did not perform well at the box office, but what did? A Minecraft movie. It earned almost a billion dollars because Jack Black spent two hours showing off Minecraft items to the camera and shouting their names. Avoid doing that on the television series, but in this case, do exactly that. Go ahead and do that. kind of thing.

It kind of stinks that we're like this, but underneath, I believe everyone simply wants to see things they can identify with as frequently as possible. At minimum, 10 times an hour during a TV series adapted from a video game, we all wish for this:

That implies someone will need to jump into a haystack, another person will have to stand atop the peak of a rooftop as the camera moves around them, and someone living today will have to dine at a British pub named "Frye's Pub" or board a vessel called "The Kenway." The Assassin's Creed film included some nods and hidden details, but far fewer than I would have preferred.

Therefore, Netflix, simply pack as many nods as possible into the series, continuing until you ask yourself, "Are there too many references now?" Then continue adding more. It's necessary. It's essential, so we can all gesture at the television like Leo.

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