Although video game films have not typically done very well at the box office, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed, starring Michael Fassbender, looks to break that stigma. The film shows a lot of promise, and looks to stay really true to the game’s storyline. Which is something that game fans are hoping for.
Over the weekend, Alain Corre, Ubisoft’s European leader, had a few comments about the motivations Ubisoft has for making the film that had people scratching their heads. In an interview with MCV, Core actually stated that the studio was “not going to earn a lot of money from it”. He went on to say that the real returns the studio will see will be through an expansion of the game’s brand and “put this franchise in front of a lot more people who, maybe, will then pick up future Assassin’s Creed games.”
What? According to Corre, Ubisoft doesn’t plan on making any profit from the film? That is a laughable idea, and one that would suggest the film is not expected to do very well. This would be a devastating announcement right before the release of the movie in theaters.
Bring on the Backtrack
Today, Ubisoft released a statement to MCV clarifying the studio’s stance and Corre’s comments. He says that the studio isn’t making movies just to sell games, that they are expanding the brand by creating a broader brand:
“Ubisoft’s core vision is to create top quality entertainment and experiences. For the Assassin’s Creed film, we have worked closely with our partners at New Regency and 20th Century Fox as well as the talented cast and production team from the very beginning to ensure we deliver a quality experience to ours fans. We strongly believe the Assassin’s Creed brand has this cross-over appeal that will please both video games fans and moviegoers.”
The studio has allowed the director of the film, Justin Kurzel, a great amount of creative freedom. In doing this, the studio hopes to make the first good video game film.
Assassin’s Creed hits theaters on December 21, and stars Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, and Michael K. Williams.
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