Monstrous Year Just Got More Monstrous...

And yet another film joins that year...

And this is one of the few that's not a Disney film.  New Regency and Ubisoft have plugged in Memorial Day, 2015 for the release of their "Assassin's Creed" film.  Hmmmm.  I wonder what other film will likely be out in May of that year?  The film studio is moving ahead with the Michael Fassbender starring game adaptation.

The studio/game-maker studio are moving for forward with production to begin on the film by early next year.  No start date has been announced, but the film, produced by Fassbender as well is being targeted as a tent pole franchise.  The first of many from Ubisoft's film division.  Michael Lesslie is penning the screenplay at this time with supervision by Fassbender himself.

Now, if they only had a director...

Filming Ghosts...

Being a player isn't easy... 

Ubisoft Games is ambitious, there is no doubt...

 After announcing last year that they were starting up their own film studio/production company to develop projects based on their game properties, they quickly set about setting up deals in Hollywood akin to the one Legendary Pictures has with Warner Bros.  Maybe it was the reaction to the adaptation of "Prince of Persia" or simply realizing the potential they had with the content they owned or controlled.  But they started have continually moved forward in the murky swamp known as film development.  Today, they added another property to their list of adaptations.  It's also what I think is the most likely one to make it to film first.  If they attach the right talent, with the right director, writer and actors, then this could be a franchise property: "Ghost Recon"

The series of games based on a Tom Clancy created storyline is something that could make for a compelling action film in a world where a gun being fired needs no subtitle.  They've even made a short film to sell the upcoming "Ghost Recon: Future Soldier" game, an it's definitely not an amateurish undertaking.  But just like "Assassin's Creed" with Michael Fassbender attached to produce and "Splinter Cell" with Tom Hardy set to star, they'll need talent attached to make it a draw for audiences that have never picked up a joy stick.

But if Ubisoft can make a profitable venture of this film, its brand will carry the adaptions of "Assassin's Creed" and "Splinter Cell" to further chances of success.  Perhaps as I stated in my original article about the company's creation of this division, this is the future way for video game films.  Leaving out the studio suits and their mangling of a property just so they can claim its success if it succeeds, or blame it's failure on someone else.  Microsoft has partially tried to do this with Halo, but only half-heartedly.  But there are profits to be made in games, and with games if the right people are put in charge.  Good stories will create good box office.

If only suits will stop playing games...

Soft In Translation...

Turn the power button on...







In this modern world this news only seems almost obvious...

Yesterday, Ubisoft, creator of games like "Assassin's Creed" and "Prince of Persia" (you remember that one) announced that they were creating their own film studio: Ubisoft Motion Pictures. It appears they realize the potential of the franchises they have and are not content with others having the creative control over them.

To be more accurate, it's really just a production company, not a full fledged studio. Most of the reports have gotten this one wrong. Perhaps it was lost in the translation of the original article. They will still partner with other studios in Hollywood to get films made of their properties. They just don't want Tinsel Town to be the one calling all the shots.

I'd be surprised if we didn't hear about more companies doing something like this. Micro$oft has even flirted with this idea (And in this process, Halo has languished). As the film business searches for new sources of material to adapt, video games feel like a natural alternative/variant to comic books. Both mediums are very visual and provide lazy suits that are too busy to actually read, the ability to grasp a concept quickly and efficiently. Expect more to come.

My feelings are based on the success, they would require and receive more and more autonomy as time when on. So they would essentially be like their own studio after a while anyway. But that means making hits and in the film business can often be elusive. After all, Walt Disney Pictures "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" made $335 million dollars and it's considered a disappointment at best. The trouble will be balancing budgets with scripts. That's something Hollywood has had trouble with from the dawn of the industry.

Making money and make believe can be a difficult but enticing partnership...