It’s a Meeting of the Michaels in the Latest ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Clip
As far as movies go, Assassin’s Creed is kind of in a weird spot. On the one hand, the cast of A-listers — and a budget estimated somewhere around $200 million — would suggest that the studio has every intention of overcoming the terrible track record of big screen video game adaptations. On the other hand, though, executives at game developer Ubisoft have previously admitted that they do not expect the film to make a lot of money. While they have confidence in the quality of their movie, they view its financial success as secondary as long as it helps them sell copies of their next video game.
This disconnect seems to have created a weird apathy towards the film. Earlier this month, for example, The Wrap shared some early projections that put Assassin’s Creed at a $20 – $30 million dollar opening. If the budget really is around the $200 million mark, that would represent one of the biggest flops of the year. All of which is to say that Assassin’s Creed needs a last minute marketing surge to generate some interest; instead, we get clips like this, courtesy of Heroic Hollywood.
I’ll admit, I’m a little puzzled. Granted, all it takes to spark my interest in a film is the right combination of actors, and any film starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard — not to mention Jeremy Irons and Michael K. Williams — is going to be circled on my calendar no matter what. But imagine you know nothing about Assassin’s Creed and this is the first clip you’re seeing. There’s no action, no teases of the scope and scale of the film, and no dialogue that an Assassin’s Creed neophyte could untangle. Michael K. Williams is a magnetic presence anytime he’s on the screen, but what we see in this clip is mostly gibberish. If this is the best that Assassin’s Creed can offer to win over fans in the final weeks before its release, then maybe it is doomed to be a flop.
Here’s the full plot synopsis for the film:
Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.
Assassin’s Creed will hit theaters on December 25, 2016.