Growing video game developer and publisher Ubisoft formed its own film production house back in May. Titled Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the studio’s primary goal is to get to work on the beginnings of three potential film franchises based on their core video game series: Assassin’s Creed, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, the latter two of which spawned from Tom Clancy novels.
Assassin’s Creed is the hottest property Ubisoft is running with at the moment, with its fourth major release in four years occurring in under two weeks. Seeing the buzz, the sales numbers and potential of the stories and cinematic nature of the games, several movie studios vied for the chance to work with Ubisoft and distribute the film adaptation, but Sony won in the end. According to the heads of competing studios, perhaps they didn’t really win…
According to Vulture, the deal Sony signed with Ubisoft is unlike any other in that it grants Ubisoft Motion Pictures nearly full creative control as well as approval over the script, casting decisions, budget and release date. Like we’re beginning to see with a lot of major video game franchises, the creators are rightfully worried of filmmakers ruining their brand and this is why we’re seeing so much hesitation and uncertainty on films including Call of Duty, Gears of War, Grand Theft Auto, Halo, Metal Gear Solid and Uncharted.
One of Vulture’s insiders describes the deal as something not even Spielberg could get land as a director and Spielberg’s DreamWorks was one of the first studios to pass on Assassin’s Creed movie. Spielberg isn’t shooting down the movie as many are over-dramatizing; DreamWorks is avoiding the restrictive situation that comes with it. When it comes to licensed properties there’s a very tough balance between the director’s creative control, the creator trying to protect their own work and the studio whose primary goal is to maximize the revenue by making the film as accessible and wide-reaching as possible.
According to Vulture’s multiple studio sources, there’s a long of angst about the existence of such a deal where the movie studio has what amounts to be little creative control over the project. This ended up being what took Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures out of the running.
“It’s [Ubisoft’s] billion-dollar brand, so I get that they’re protective… But they’re not moviemakers, and the only way to make sure it’s a bad movie is to undervalue what movie studios do — and this is a deal that totally undervalues what movie studios do.”
By “what movie studios do,” said studio exec must be referring to the likes of Hitman, Prince of Persia, Max Payne and Wing Commander. Clearly, they got the right idea when it comes to managing and running with video game projects. Seeing as how in reality nearly all video game movies suck – even the ones with massive budgets – perhaps it’s best to try something different with Assassin’s Creed. The more control Ubisoft has might just be for the best.
The protagonists of the Assassin's Creed games
Says one studio chief who of course, didn’t get the Assassin’s Creed deal for his studio:
“They want to be able to pull the plug on the whole movie’s development if they decide to. It’s ridiculous.”
No, the Doom adaptation was ridiculous. Someone needed to the pull the plug on that.
This isn’t as extreme as some are making it sound since Ubisoft is actually going to be financing a heavy portion of the project and this is why Sony was satisfied with the deal. Ubisoft is simply fearful of what a movie studio would do with Assassin’s Creed if they weren’t fully involved and who can blame them after what Disney did with Prince of Persia and a $200 million production budget.
There’s actually a deep and complex story behind the Assassin’s Creed games with a wide variety of wonderful characters. The potential for a long-term film franchise and merchandising is limitless but it all comes down to it being made right. That’s what Ubisoft is aiming to do and good for them – perhaps it can be the movie to turn the tide for the genre and bring the quality that some of these major video game franchises deserve on the silver screen.
What the other studio execs are really worried about is this deal actually working out and the movie not only hitting it big at the box office, but among critics. What happens with the industry and deals with video game publishers going forward? Uh oh. Let’s just hope Sony and Ubisoft can work together on this one and get the right people involved.
For an idea of the visual style Assassin’s Creed can offer, you must watch the Assassin’s Creed Revelations E3 2011 trailer at our sister site, Game Rant. Also check out episode 11 of the Screen Rant Underground podcast where we also discuss the Assassin’s Creed film.
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Follow me on Twitter @rob_keyes and for your video game needs, follow @gamerant.
Source: Vulture
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I personally believe ubisoft should start from scratch. Unknown director(s) and actors. Have an up and coming director that is a true genuine fan of the game and whose goals are based purely on protecting the true meaning and story of this franchise. Like silent hill for example. Excellent movie adaptation and it was directed from a true, genuine fan. I trust Ubisoft’s judgement thus far and believe they will do this one right! Nothing is true, everything is permitted.
I agree with yah Khris! Just like Neill Blomkamp who directed District 9. Even though District 9 isn’t a videogame, he was a fresh director and understood the story very well. Thus became a good movie.
But yes, they should put out a director who is a true fan of the game who knew the story BY HEART.
Also, “It’s [Ubisoft’s] billion-dollar brand, so I get that they’re protective… But they’re not moviemakers, and the only way to make sure it’s a bad movie is to undervalue what movie studios do — and this is a deal that totally undervalues what movie studios do.”
I don’t blame UBISOFT for being protective. Since there’s a lot of videogames turned into a movie failed.
“Assassin’s Creed:Lineage” is a good proof that Ubisoft knows what they’re doing. So it’s better if they have a good control if they make a movie.
Screw a movie franchise. Take it to SyFy and pitch it as a series. Let each season cover an installment of the game itself. That way the characters and storied could be fully developed.
Yo i totally agree, i mean look at television and movies now, what is the most successful and what is the most respected. we are talking about a HUGE story line being put into a (probably) 2hr film? no way i dont see it happening without risking important aspects of the story.
but books have the same emphasis now-a-days people want to see the story upheld in the media adaptation, and in almost all book-bigscreen movies people (fans) hated it.
BUT LOOK AT GAME OF THRONES!
WALKING DEAD!
even SPARTACUS (not a book, but still alot of story)
they were VERY SUCCESSFUL as SERIES
you can fit more into a series, and still get jsut as much profit,
plus more ability to expand it (with more seasons).
they can even do an original AC storyline and still make it good. (though i would prefer a live action interpretation of the game story lines). BUT EITHER WAY!
SERIES IS THE WAY TO GO! totally agree with you well said man
i would adore an assassins creed movie, but i have to say, a series on the tv would be a wee bit risky. especially if they are animating it. but if it was live action like the one ubisoft made and put on youtube about giovanni, oh god, you would have a constant viewer with me. seriously though. sony & ubisoft should be able to pull this off and kudos to ubisoft for not wanting anyone to screw the game up for all of us *cough* prince of persia *cough*