‘Assassin’s Creed’ Live-Action Netflix Series Taps ‘Die Hard’s’ Jeb Stuart to Write (EXCLUSIVE)
The “Assassin’s Creed” live-action series at Netflix has enlisted Jeb Stuart to serve as writer, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.
The series was first announced as being in development in October as part of a deal between Netflix and Ubisoft to develop content based on the best-selling video game franchise. The deal includes live-action, animated, and anime series. Ubisoft Film & Television’s Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik serve as executive producers.
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Reps for Netflix and Stuart did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
“Assassin’s Creed” first debuted in 2007 and became an instant hit, with over 155 million copies of the various titles in the franchise having been sold. The open world games explore the war between the rival secret orders of the Assassins and the Templars as they use advanced machines to access the genetic memories of Assassins in different periods of the past to track down powerful artifacts called Pieces of Eden.
Stuart most recently created the Netflix series “Vikings: Valhalla,” a continuation of the History Channel series “Vikings.” No premiere date for the series has been set at the time of this publishing. He is also known for his work writing hit films like “Die Hard,” “Another 48 Hours,” and “The Fugitive.”
He is repped by UTA and Kaplan / Perrone Entertainment.
Should the project move ahead, it would not be the first live-action “Assassin’s Creed” project to hit the screen. A film adaptation starring Michael Fassbender was released in 2016. It went on to gross over $240 million worldwide against a reported budget of $125 million.
Netflix and Ubisoft have partnered on a number of TV projects to date. Along with “Assassin’s Creed,” the streamer recently announced that it had ordered anime series based on “Far Cry” as well as “Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix.” Variety exclusively reported last year that a “Splinter Cell” anime series is set up at Netflix and hails from “John Wick” writer Derek Kolstad. There is also a film version of “The Division” starring Jake Gylenhaal and Jessica Chastain currently in the works.
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