Assassin’s Creed Movie is in Continuity with Games

In the run up to next year’s impending Assassin’s Creed film, there has been years of speculation about whether the game will take place in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance, during the Crusades or the American Revolution, even whether there would be a modern day setting, or could we just cut to the good Florence stuff?

Well it was with great interest and surprise that the reveal of Michael Fassbender’s Assassin's Guild costume from yesterday also heralded the implication of something else altogether. Rather than playing popular gaming characters like Altair or Ezio Auditore, or even the bane of gamers’ existence (Desmond), Fassbender would actually play Callum Lynch, an original modern character who unlocks his assassinating potential by visiting his ancestor Aguilar in 15^th century Spain.

But if you’re wondering why he is not Desmond or one of those fabled ancestors, perhaps it’s because the film is in continuity with the games.

As revealed via official tweets from the Assassin’s Creed handle overseen by Aymar Azaizia, the head of content for Assassin's Creed, it is made clear that the whole universe connects.

We share the same universe. Elements in the film have consequences as in our games, comics, and books -Aymar https://t.co/FSpepKARt7

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) August 28, 2015

It’s a brand new story, w/ new characters set in our universe. It’s possible you may find some familiar faces -Aymar https://t.co/dTpDat4STS

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) August 28, 2015

Both tweets are very intriguing, because it means that the mythology of the films is already laid out in (excessively) intricate detail by the Ubisoft games. Further, the potential of seeing narrative overlap with what occurred in the games does not rule out visiting those eras or characters. After all, if Callum’s ancient mentor Augilar is alive in the 15^th century, there is plenty of opportunity for him to take a detour to Florence, Venice, or any of the other Italian locations that Ezio frequented. Or perhaps, he’ll know something about the Borgias and their Spanish history, which predates their infamous Papal one.

The plot quite literally has thickened indeed for the film from director Justin Kurzel. Also starring Marion Cotillard, Assassin’s Creed is due into theaters Dec. 21, 2016.