According to Eurogamer.net, Netflix’s Assassin’s Creed TV series will be set in ancient Rome between 54-68 AD, a time period the game series hasn’t explored before. The show will reportedly feature historical figures including Emperor Nero and Seneca the Younger, with filming scheduled to start next year in Italy. Toby Wallace has been cast in a co-lead role, though his specific character hasn’t been revealed yet. The series is being helmed by Roberto Patino and David Wiener, who will serve as creators, showrunners, and executive producers. Netflix first announced the Assassin’s Creed adaptation back in 2020, and the official description confirms it will follow the secret war between Assassins and Templars across pivotal historical events.
Why Ancient Rome Makes Sense
Here’s the thing about Assassin’s Creed – the historical settings are arguably more important than the modern-day sci-fi elements. The games have already covered Renaissance Italy, Revolutionary America, Ancient Egypt, and Viking-era England. But ancient Rome? That’s basically the holy grail of historical settings they’ve been circling for years. The 54-68 AD timeframe puts us right in Nero’s reign, which was absolutely wild – fires, conspiracies, political intrigue everywhere. Perfect Assassin’s Creed material.
Netflix’s Streaming Advantage
And let’s be real – this is exactly the kind of big-budget historical epic that streaming services can do better than traditional TV or even movies. Netflix can pour serious money into recreating ancient Rome without worrying about box office numbers. They’ve seen the success of shows like The Crown and The Last Kingdom, and ancient Rome has that same blend of politics, violence, and spectacle that audiences eat up. But can they capture the parkour and stealth gameplay that makes the games so distinctive? That’s the real challenge.
Breaking the Video Game Curse
Look, video game adaptations have had a rough history, but we’re finally seeing some decent ones lately. The Last of Us proved it’s possible, and even the original Assassin’s Creed movie had its moments despite being a mess. The key difference here? They’re not trying to adapt a specific game storyline. By creating new characters in a fresh time period, they’re giving themselves creative freedom while staying true to the core Assassin’s Creed conflict. Smart move, honestly.
What’s Really at Stake Here
This isn’t just another Netflix show – it’s a potential franchise starter. Assassin’s Creed has sold over 200 million games worldwide, so the built-in audience is massive. If Netflix nails this, they could have their own Game of Thrones-level hit on their hands. But if they mess it up? They’ll join the long list of failed video game adaptations and waste one of gaming’s most valuable IPs. No pressure or anything.
