Development for the screenplay of an Assassin’s Creed film is underway

Whether you like it or not, it looks like there will be an Assassin's Creed film in the near future. Ubisoft today announced that they were partnering with New Regency who will work with Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the film and television division of Ubisoft, in "close collaboration" on the forthcoming film.

“Ubisoft chose to partner with New Regency because they are a talent- and filmmaker-driven company, with the same independent and creative mindset that we have at Ubisoft Motion Pictures,” said Ubisoft Motion Pictures chief executive officer Jean-Julien Baronnet. “Bringing aboard New Regency’s renowned production and distribution expertise while maintaining our own creative and financial flexibility ensures that Assassin’s Creed will be a high-quality film that respects the lore and fans of the video game franchise.”

Development of a screenplay is beginning "immediately" and the project is being "fast tracked as the creative pieces come together", Ubisoft detailed. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however.

“We wanted to do everything we could to secure the rights to Assassin's Creed, which Ubisoft has maintained with such care and quality over the years,” said Brad Weston, president and chief executive officer, New Regency. "Having just finished working with Michael on Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave (with Plan B) made the partnership even more irresistible."

In July, Ubisoft Motion Pictures announced that X-Men: First Class and Prometheus star Michael Fassbender would join the cast of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed film as co-producer and actor.