After years of anticipation, Netflix has officially greenlit a live-action Assassin’s Creed series, bringing Ubisoft’s beloved video game franchise to the small screen in a bold new adaptation. Announced on July 17, 2025, this high-octane thriller marks a significant milestone in the franchise’s journey from gaming to television, promising to deliver the rich storytelling and historical intrigue that have captivated millions of fans worldwide since the first game debuted in 2007.
A Long-Awaited Adaptation
The journey to this moment began in October 2020, when Netflix and Ubisoft first revealed their partnership to develop multiple Assassin’s Creed projects, including live-action, animated, and anime series. The live-action series, described as a “genre-bending epic,” has been in development for nearly five years, facing challenges such as executive turnover and creative shifts. Initially, Die Hard and Vikings: Valhalla writer Jeb Stuart was attached as showrunner, but he departed in 2023 due to creative differences and a restructuring of Ubisoft’s team. Despite these hurdles, Netflix and Ubisoft have remained committed to the project, with recent updates confirming its active development.
Now, the series has found its creative footing with a powerhouse team. Roberto Patino (Westworld, DMZ) and David Wiener (Halo, Homecoming) will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers, joined by a talented writers’ room that includes Claire Kiechel (Watchmen), Jaquén Castellanos (The Affair), and Sanaz Toossi (A League of Their Own). Additional executive producers include Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, and Austin Dill from Ubisoft Film & Television, as well as Matt O’Toole. This diverse and experienced team signals Netflix’s ambition to craft a series that honors the franchise’s legacy while appealing to both longtime fans and new audiences.
What to Expect from the Series
The Assassin’s Creed series will center on the eternal conflict between the Assassins, who fight for free will, and the Templars, who seek control over humanity’s destiny. True to the franchise’s roots, the show is expected to weave together historical settings with modern-day narratives, leveraging the Animus—a device that allows characters to relive ancestral memories—to explore pivotal moments in history. While specific details about the plot, setting, and cast remain under wraps, the series is slated for a 2025–2026 release, suggesting a single-season arc that could serve as the cornerstone of a broader Assassin’s Creed universe on Netflix.
The franchise’s hallmark is its ability to immerse players in richly detailed historical periods, from the Crusades to the Renaissance to the American Revolution. Fans are eager to see which eras the series will explore—speculation ranges from revisiting iconic characters like Ezio Auditore or Edward Kenway to introducing entirely new assassins in uncharted settings. Unlike the 2016 Assassin’s Creed film, which received mixed reviews for its handling of the Animus and modern-day plotlines, the series aims to learn from past mistakes, offering a deeper dive into the franchise’s lore and a more cohesive narrative.
A New Era for Video Game Adaptations
The greenlighting of the Assassin’s Creed series comes at a time when video game adaptations are thriving. Shows like The Last of Us and Fallout have set a high bar, proving that gaming IPs can translate into critically acclaimed television. Netflix itself has found success with The Witcher, Castlevania, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and the Assassin’s Creed series is poised to join this growing roster. Ubisoft’s collaboration with Netflix also includes plans for animated and anime adaptations, though the live-action series is the first to move forward, signaling confidence in its potential to redefine the franchise’s on-screen legacy.
The 2016 Assassin’s Creed film, starring Michael Fassbender, struggled to capture the spirit of the games, grossing $240.7 million against a $125 million budget but failing to resonate with critics or fans. The Netflix series, with its serialized format, offers a chance to explore the franchise’s dense mythology in greater depth, potentially avoiding the pitfalls of the film by focusing on character-driven storytelling and historical authenticity.
Challenges and Opportunities
The road to this greenlight has not been without obstacles. The departure of key executives like Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik, who were initially attached as executive producers, and the exit of Jeb Stuart raised concerns about the project’s momentum. Reports in February 2025 suggested the series was “on hold,” but Netflix’s Head of Gaming, Alain Tascan, clarified in April that it remained in active development. The resolution of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the assembly of a new writers’ room have reinvigorated the project, culminating in the recent greenlight.
The series also faces the challenge of satisfying a passionate fanbase while appealing to newcomers. The Assassin’s Creed games have sold over 230 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. Fans on platforms like Reddit have expressed both excitement and skepticism, emphasizing the need for a series that respects the games’ interconnected lore and avoids the missteps of the 2016 film. Suggestions include focusing on historical accuracy, incorporating familiar characters, or exploring modern-day assassins with advanced technology like 3D-printed hidden blades.
Looking Ahead
With production now moving forward, the Assassin’s Creed live-action series is shaping up to be a landmark project for Netflix and Ubisoft. The involvement of seasoned showrunners and a robust creative team suggests a commitment to delivering a high-quality adaptation that captures the essence of the franchise—stealth, action, and a timeless battle for humanity’s future. While no casting or specific historical settings have been confirmed, the series’ “genre-bending” approach hints at a dynamic blend of historical fiction and science fiction, staying true to the Assassin’s Creed formula.
As fans await further details, the greenlight marks a promising step toward expanding the Assassin’s Creed universe. Whether it revisits beloved assassins or introduces new heroes, the series has the potential to redefine how the franchise is experienced, offering a fresh saga for both gamers and streaming audiences. Keep an eye on Netflix and Ubisoft for updates as this epic adventure takes shape, with a release expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
