Netflix Confirms Setting for New ‘Assassin’s Creed’ TV Show

I was heading out into the real world (theater conservatory) in 2007, so of course, I played my fair share of Assassin’s Creed. It was prime “smoke a bowl and stay up until the sunshine playing a game” time, something that makes me exhausted just thinking about it. The game was stunning, and it explored open-world gameplay in a way I hadn’t experienced before. I’d even go on to play more games in the series later in life, which moved away from more of the stealth aspects and just became adventure games (I fought a Cyclops).

But even as I enjoyed the games over the years, I never wanted to see them adapted. They felt like something that was perfect for my XBOX but wouldn’t extend to a theatrical or televised experience. Sure, the ones that are more adventure-friendly would make sense, but movies and shows like that already exist. The cloak-and-dagger nature of the truest forms of the games didn’t seem interesting to me outside of a game, nor did the time jumping that happens in the games. So, I skipped the 2017 film starring Michael Fassbender.

Yeah, that was a real thing! It came out in theaters and everything! But, like most video game movies before Sonic, it tanked. There were planned sequels that never saw the light of day, and, around the same time, Netflix was developing a television show. Unsurprisingly, that took a while longer to get off the ground. But, almost ten years after the film, it will be hitting Netflix (and then disappearing after a day or two until you remember that a third season is coming out, but you forgot to watch the second).

Deadline is reporting that the show begins filming this year, specifically in Italy, which will also be the setting for the show, placing it in Ancient Rome. This ends much speculation over when and where the movie will take place, as the games have been located everywhere from the Holy Land to Colonial America. There were lots of options. Instead, this will be set during the reign of Emperor Nero in 64 AD (though I suspect there will be some scenes set in modern day as well).

All that said, I don’t know if the simple premise of the games will get me to watch. There’s something different about having a hook (someone going back in time via memories to live out the life of their assassin ancestor) is enough if I’m not playing as and getting immersed in the character. That is certainly possible with a TV show, but there’s also a chance that this just ends up being a Surf Dracula situation where we don’t see the lead don their signature hood and knives until episode eight of ten (if we’re lucky).