Sony Pictures has put a target on Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed", closing in on a deal to develop a film franchise based on the popular videogame series
Studio is in final negotiations to adapt and distribute the bigscreen version of the historical actioner, landing the film rights in a bidding war after Ubisoft started shopping the property around Hollywood over the last several months. Studios, including Universal, also were vying for the project.
Deal comes after the French gamemaker launched Ubisoft Motion Pictures, at its Paris headquarters in May, as a shingle to seek out entertainment partners to turn its titles into films and TV shows. Jean-Julien Baronnet, former CEO of Luc Besson's EuropaCorp, heads the venture.
Through the division, Ubisoft wants to maintain more creative control over the development of its games for other platforms rather than broker traditional one-off licensing deals with studios, something that proved key during the bidding process with Sony.
The company views adaptations as a way to turn its games into larger brands that will get the titles in front of more consumers while creating lucrative new revenue sources for the company. One of its first projects is an animated TV series based on the "Raving Rabbids" franchise that will air on Nickelodeon.
The "Assassin's Creed" deal also comes as Sony increasingly is eyeing the videogame space as a potential source for future franchises. It also has an adaptation of Naughty Dog's "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" and "InFamous" in development with Arad Prods. Titles are exclusive to Sony's PlayStation division.
The first "Assassin's Creed" game bowed in 2007, with a fourth installment, "Assassin's Creed: Revelations," set to hit store shelves Nov. 15.
Property, developed by Ubisoft Montreal, revolves around a bartender named Desmond Miles who is captured by a secret corporation called Abstergo Industries and forced to go back in time to various historical periods like the Renaissance and Crusades to relieve the memories of his ancestors -- all assassins -- in order to recover ancient artifacts. New game is set in 16th century Constantinople.
More than 30 million copies of the games have been sold worldwide.
Source: "Variety"