When video games and film mix, it usually turns out poorly. Back in June, the video game adaptation Warcraft failed to make waves domestically, but it still somehow succeeded internationally. It’s hard to say if the film was a success or not, particularly by factoring in its divisive reception. This doesn’t mean history has to repeat itself for similar movies. There’s happens to be one video game movie coming out soon that may just change the outlook on the genre.
Assassin’s Creed, based on the bestselling series by Ubisoft, tells the story of a man who’s able to travel back in time to the times of his ancestors. He soon discovers that many of them were notorious assassins. It’s a fascinating story, however, that doesn’t mean it will automatically win over audiences who are unfamiliar with the material. Even if a blockbuster fails critically, a studio can still be happy with it if it performs well at the box office. Ubisoft’s European head Alain Corre is quoted in an article published in MCV as saying that the company doubts the film will make much money. Nevertheless, there are many other benefits to releasing adaptation like this one:
We are not going to earn a lot of money from it. It is a lot more a marketing thing, it is also good for the image of the brand. Although we will make some money, it is not the purpose of this movie. The purpose is to bring Assassin’s Creed to more people. We have our core fans, but what we would like is to put this franchise in front of a lot more people who, maybe, will then pick up future Assassin’s Creed games.
We will have to wait and see how people take Assassin’s Creed when it opens this winter. If it’s a surprise hit, we very well may be seeing the beginning of a franchise. If the film fairs poorly, well, then lesson learned. But it should still be a pretty enjoyable watch, especially for the game’s massive fanbase.
Assassin’s Creed hits theaters on December 21, 2016.