The film features original characters but is very true to the spirit of the game.
"It's all new characters," explains director Justin Kurzel. "They've all been designed and created from an original story. But the concepts of the game and the spirit of the game are there. And that is really to do with the idea of having access to your memories, the idea of history and who you are. It's an origin story. So, it's about a man who discovers who he is and the fact that these lives lead back through the years and generations."
Adds producer Jean de Rivieres, "Our approach was to make a standalone movie and, therefore, not to use any of the existing Assassins or main characters from the game. We also felt it was important to expand upon the existing universe and give these fans, who have spent hours immersed in these games, something new."
2 of 9
Expect some "hardcore" stunt work.
"We didn't want our Assassins to float through the air. We want them to land with a thump," says Kurzel. He raves about some of the amazing work his "hardcore" stunt team has been doing. "There's a sense of danger and impulsiveness, and hopefully you can feel that in the film."
But he also wanted the stunts to feel believable. "It's not superheroes flying around with capes. We just wanted to do justice to the idea that these guys were human and they had skills that you could recognize and believe. As soon as it looked impossible, it had to be just on that precipice, and that's what we tried to achieve."
3 of 9
The video game makers always wanted Michael Fassbender as their star.
"Even before talking to potential screenwriters and studio partners, we felt we needed an iconic actor to play our assassin,” says producer de Rivieres. "Michael Fassbender was the obvious choice. He brought both mainstream success and an independent touch to the project. We only went to Michael. No other actor was ever up for the role."
4 of 9
Fassbender plays two roles: an ancient assassin and his convict descendant.
Fassbender plays Aguilar de Nehra, an Assassin during the 15th century Spanish Inquisition. And he also plays modern-day character Callum Lynch, a death row convict whose life is spared when he agrees to an experimental procedure that taps into his genetic memory.
"It feels like two different movies in a way," says Fassbender. "Aguilar is definitely part of a family, and he believes in the Creed. Cal is somebody who’s much more of a drifter, having been in and out of correctional facilities for most of his life. He doesn’t believe in much."
5 of 9
Michael Fassbender worked out for six months for the movie.
"Michael was very keen on doing a lot of stuntwork himself and for it to feel real," says Kurzel. "He worked out for six months. It was incredibly physically demanding. He did a lot of the action scenes, a lot of the hardcore stuff. He wanted, like I did, to not be able to cut to the stunt guy."
6 of 9
It's a Macbeth reunion.
Not only is Michael Fassbender working again with his Macbeth director Justin Kurzel, but Lady Macbeth, Marion Cotillard, co-stars. Fassbender suggested Kurzel for the job.
"Justin just has incredibly good taste,” notes Fassbender. "He’s got a good feel for material, and he’s strong and bold in his choices. There’s a lot at stake in this movie, and that comes across with Justin."
"I had such an amazing experience with Justin and Michael on Macbeth," says Cotillard. "Even before I read it, I wanted to work with them again."
7 of 9
Michael Fassbender is producing the film.
Says Kurzel, "Michael was so much a part of that development. That excited me. I wasn't just working with him as an actor, but it was something he had enormous passion for." He adds that Fassbender has a "forensic" eye for detail.
8 of 9
Marion Cotillard's character is helping Cal -- or is she?
The Oscar winner plays Sofia Rikken, a scientist who helps Cal through his past-life regressions. "Sofia has this ideology, which is a very strong desire to understand violence," notes Cotillard. "Everything in her life is dedicated to finding this, but she'll discover that her father (Jeremy Irons) has another agenda."
Irons plays Alan Rikken, who happens to be a modern-day Templar, an ancient order that is diametrically opposed to the Assassins. "The Templars believe in benign control, whereas the Assassins are obviously all about free will. These are two opposing extremes," says Kurzel.
9 of 9
Will there be an Assassin's Creed 2?
Since IMDb already lists a sequel, Kurzel said the team has definitely thought about it. "We were in Spain, and over a couple of glasses of wine, we'll ask, 'Where do we go next?' It's a delicious cocktail of possibilities. The idea that Michael can go in any kind of time period and play different ancestors is very exciting, and it means you could go for a second or third film. But we're just trying to finish this one."
"It's all new characters," explains director Justin Kurzel. "They've all been designed and created from an original story. But the concepts of the game and the spirit of the game are there. And that is really to do with the idea of having access to your memories, the idea of history and who you are. It's an origin story. So, it's about a man who discovers who he is and the fact that these lives lead back through the years and generations."
Expect some "hardcore" stunt work.
"We didn't want our Assassins to float through the air. We want them to land with a thump," says Kurzel. He raves about some of the amazing work his "hardcore" stunt team has been doing. "There's a sense of danger and impulsiveness, and hopefully you can feel that in the film."
But he also wanted the stunts to feel believable. "It's not superheroes flying around with capes. We just wanted to do justice to the idea that these guys were human and they had skills that you could recognize and believe. As soon as it looked impossible, it had to be just on that precipice, and that's what we tried to achieve."
The video game makers always wanted Michael Fassbender as their star.
"Even before talking to potential screenwriters and studio partners, we felt we needed an iconic actor to play our assassin,” says producer de Rivieres. "Michael Fassbender was the obvious choice. He brought both mainstream success and an independent touch to the project. We only went to Michael. No other actor was ever up for the role."
Fassbender plays two roles: an ancient assassin and his convict descendant.
Fassbender plays Aguilar de Nehra, an Assassin during the 15th century Spanish Inquisition. And he also plays modern-day character Callum Lynch, a death row convict whose life is spared when he agrees to an experimental procedure that taps into his genetic memory.
"It feels like two different movies in a way," says Fassbender. "Aguilar is definitely part of a family, and he believes in the Creed. Cal is somebody who’s much more of a drifter, having been in and out of correctional facilities for most of his life. He doesn’t believe in much."
Michael Fassbender worked out for six months for the movie.
"Michael was very keen on doing a lot of stuntwork himself and for it to feel real," says Kurzel. "He worked out for six months. It was incredibly physically demanding. He did a lot of the action scenes, a lot of the hardcore stuff. He wanted, like I did, to not be able to cut to the stunt guy."
6 of 9
It's a Macbeth reunion.
Not only is Michael Fassbender working again with his Macbeth director Justin Kurzel, but Lady Macbeth, Marion Cotillard, co-stars. Fassbender suggested Kurzel for the job.
"Justin just has incredibly good taste,” notes Fassbender. "He’s got a good feel for material, and he’s strong and bold in his choices. There’s a lot at stake in this movie, and that comes across with Justin."
"I had such an amazing experience with Justin and Michael on Macbeth," says Cotillard. "Even before I read it, I wanted to work with them again."
7 of 9
Michael Fassbender is producing the film.
Says Kurzel, "Michael was so much a part of that development. That excited me. I wasn't just working with him as an actor, but it was something he had enormous passion for." He adds that Fassbender has a "forensic" eye for detail.
8 of 9
Marion Cotillard's character is helping Cal -- or is she?
The Oscar winner plays Sofia Rikken, a scientist who helps Cal through his past-life regressions. "Sofia has this ideology, which is a very strong desire to understand violence," notes Cotillard. "Everything in her life is dedicated to finding this, but she'll discover that her father (Jeremy Irons) has another agenda."
Irons plays Alan Rikken, who happens to be a modern-day Templar, an ancient order that is diametrically opposed to the Assassins. "The Templars believe in benign control, whereas the Assassins are obviously all about free will. These are two opposing extremes," says Kurzel.
Will there be an Assassin's Creed 2?
Since IMDb already lists a sequel, Kurzel said the team has definitely thought about it. "We were in Spain, and over a couple of glasses of wine, we'll ask, 'Where do we go next?' It's a delicious cocktail of possibilities. The idea that Michael can go in any kind of time period and play different ancestors is very exciting, and it means you could go for a second or third film. But we're just trying to finish this one."
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