The lights are on
Last month, news broke that Ubisoft was working with Sony pictures to bring it’s Assassin’s Creed franchise to the silver screen, but this is no ordinary deal, and that has surprised many film industry insiders.
As NYMag notes, Assassin’s Creed is currently one of the biggest video game properties in the world. Its size has allowed Ubisoft some leverage at Sony’s negotiating table. Sony’s movie deal grants the game publisher approval over just about everything – budget, principal cast, script, release date, etc. However, this kind of control is unprecedented.
One Hollywood talent agent told NYMag, "The whole Ubisoft/Sony deal is a waste of ink, paper and time. The level of control Sony gave up means, effectively, that Assassin’s Creed will never – and I mean never – get made.” Another incredulous insider said, “As a director, even Steven Spielberg cannot get this kind of deal.”
These are interesting sentiments considering that few video game movie adaptations can be considered successful. Last summer’s Disney adaptation of Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia bombed, and Ubisoft hopes that having more control over Assassin’s Creed will improve the film. Then again, Ubisoft is a video game company – it knows plenty about releasing games, but how much does it know about film?
The NYMag article is a thoughtful and insightful piece about how video game companies and movie studios generally work together, and it’s worth a read.
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They are giving up that much control that way they can get the deal, because they know it will make lots of money, and it needs to be as close to the game as possible. And Ubisoft made that game.
Hmmmm. Considering how crapy most video game based movies are, this seems like a good idea. If the movie gets too far from the core AC fiction, then Ubisoft can pull the plug. If AC for some reason doesn't adapt well to a movie, they can pull the plug. If halfway through the development process they realize it is crap, they can pull the plug. That being said, I am a huge AC fan and truly hope that this film is made.
Prince of Persia movie was a good summer movie, but ironically not a good Prince of Persia movie.
Assassin's Creed is too awesome to be screwed up. I rather it be done right or never at all. I'm glad Ubisoft has that much control.
If you ask me this is just Hollywood dipshits looking down on Ubisoft, of being able to make a good movie with them having most control.
Hmm. Well, I hope it gets made. If not, that would be a huge waste of time for both Sony and Ubisoft. That said, I think Ubisoft having more control over approving all of that is good. It more than likely means a movie that will stay truer to the game. I've always thought the AC franchise could transfer well to the big screen, and this gives it the greatest chance of doing well, at least in my mind. Let's hope that talent agent is wrong.
That's really interesting. It'd be cool to see an Assassin's Creed movie get released that has Ubisoft backing it so thoroughly.
I hope it's good, but if ubisoft has more control over it, who will help the whole movie part of the ordeal?