?Assassin?s Creed? Movie Release Gets Michael Fassbender: Why ?Assassin?s Creed 2? Would Make The Best Film Adaptation In The Franchise

Fans are awaiting Ubisoft's upcoming Assassin's Creed 3, but now loyal players of the stealth-action game will have something else to look forward to as well. It was announced Monday that Michael Fassbender will star in and co-produce a film based on the critically acclaimed video game.

Fassbender has appeared in films such as X-Men: First Class, Shame, Haywire and Prometheus among others, and has spent the past year developing films with Conor MacCaughan, reported Variety. However, Assassin's Creed will be the most high-profile project the duo has worked on to date.

Michael Fassbender was our first choice, said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures. Michael (Fassbender) is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor.

The plot is said to revolve around a man who learns that his ancestors were trained assassins after he is kidnapped by a secret organization with ties to the Knights Templar, and is sent back in time to retrieve historical artifacts. This sounds like the game will be revolving around Desmond, but there is yet to be an announcement on which installment in the franchise the movie will focus on.

If the film is as successful as the game itself, it is possible that multiple movies will be put out, following each of Desmond's ancestors throughout the series. The upcoming Assassin's Creed 3 will take place during the American Revolution and Native American/British hybrid Connor will be the main character.

Last fall, Ubisoft and Sony talked about developing a series of Assassin's pics, but the companies have put this project on hold. Ubisoft executives have now decided to stick with their initial plan to develop the film independently to maintain greater creative control, Variety reports. Ubisoft invested in launching UMP last year to adapt the company's widely successful games into films, TV shows and other digital projects. There is still a possibility that Sony could distribute the films, but UMP will supply the project with a writer and director before discussing with Sony.

We're open to re-discuss with the key studios once the production package is finalized, Baronnet told Variety.

But more important than which company will be handling the film, diehard fans will be wondering which characters, locations, and battles will be making it to the silver screen. Although a film adaptation is likely to start from the very beginning, Assassin's Creed 2 has an engaging plot that delves into the original story behind Ezio, an ancestor to Desmond who held the title of Mentor of the Assassin's Order's Italian branch. Assassin's Creed 2 gives players the complete timeline of this iconic hooded character, from when he was born to the moment he witnessed his family's murder. This is the title in the Assassin's Creed franchise the gives fans a deep insight into the protagonist, communicating an understanding of what drives him as he develops into a master assassin. Assassin's Creed 2 has been voted the best story in the series by Game Informer, and has a linear plot that could be executed effectively through film.

Ubisoft seeks to maintain creative control over the project so that an Assassin's Creed screen rendition fares better than that of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which was adapted by Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer and only raked in $335 million worldwide.