Will we finally get a good movie based on a video game? That question has been asked by many people over the years, and while most would probably say it is unlikely to happen anytime soon, Assassin’s Creed may be the first to prove that it can be done right. After making its premiere on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed has finally been released online, and while it features a terrible Kanye West song, the film actually looks pretty good.
Directed by Justin Kurzel (Macbeth), Assassin’s Creed follows a character by the name of Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) who, through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, is able to experience the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar de Nehra, in 15th Century Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to battle the powerful Templar organization in the present day.
Aside from the story itself, the film appears to be focusing on all of the hallmarks of the franchise that fans love. Along with seeing Abstergo Industries (the modern day shell company of the Templars) and a really cool re-imagined version of the Animus, the trailer provides a few nice glimpses of the free-running and acrobatic combat that is sure to feature heavily throughout the film. Visually, Kurzel has definitely captured the look and style of Assassin’s Creed, perfectly showcasing the ways in which the Assassins fight and traverse across an urban environment.
Though the action and fight scenes all look great, what makes me more confident that Assassin’s Creed will hopefully be good is the talent involved. The film boasts an impressive cast, featuring not only Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in lead roles, but also Michael K. Williams, Jeremy Irons and Brendan Gleeson. After reading those names, it’s hard not to be excited about a film that has so many critically-acclaimed actors starring in it, even if it is a movie based on a video game.
I really, really hope that Assassin’s Creed can be that breakthrough film that shows it’s possible to make fun and well-written video game adaptations. I mean, it has to better than Mortal Kombat, right? Right?!
Assassin’s Creed will open in theaters on December 21, 2016.
What about you reader? What did you think of the first trailer of Assassin’s Creed? Are you a fan of the video games? Let us know in the comments below!
