Netflix Is Developing a Live-Action Series, and Fans of The Last of Us and Fallout Are Paying Attention

If you’ve already binged The Last of Us on HBO and are counting down the days for season two of Fallout on Prime Video, Netflix might just have your next obsession lined up.

The streaming giant is diving deeper into the world of video game adaptations, and its latest project has gamers and sci-fi fans buzzing. A live-action Assassin’s Creed series is officially in the works — and it's shaping up to be one of the most ambitious adaptations Netflix has taken on.

Netflix has been steadily stacking its lineup with live-action remakes of popular franchises. One Piece is confirmed to return for a second season, Avatar: The Last Airbender is getting a fresh chapter next year, and even Captain Planet is being revived in collaboration with Berlanti Productions and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way.

Now, stepping into the arena is Assassin’s Creed — one of Ubisoft’s most iconic gaming series, known for its gripping storylines, historical settings, and fluid parkour gameplay. This new project has reportedly been in the pipeline since 2020, and the announcement comes after five years of talks and development efforts.

A live-action Assassin’s Creed series is officially in the works — and it's shaping up to be one of the most ambitious adaptations Netflix has taken on.

Ubisoft

Behind the scenes, the series is being helmed by Roberto Patino (Westworld, DMZ) and David Wiener (Brave New World, Homecoming). The duo will serve as creators, showrunners, and executive producers. Their vision for the adaptation aims to dig deeper than just the action and spectacle fans might expect.

“We've been fans of Assassin's Creed since its release in 2007,” the creators shared. “Every day we work on this show, we come away excited and humbled by the possibilities that Assassin's Creed opens up to us."They added, "Beneath the scope, the spectacle, the parkour and the thrills is a baseline for the most essential kind of human story – about people searching for purpose, struggling with questions of identity and destiny and faith.”

Moreover, people who identify as fans often feel a sense of belonging to a community, which contributes to their well-being (Tsay-Vogel, Shanahan, and Signorielli, 2018). This social phenomenon known as 'collective identity' can enhance self-esteem and provide a sense of purpose, supporting the hype surrounding new adaptations like the Assassin's Creed series.

There’s no official release date yet, but as production gears up, fans can expect updates soon

Ubisoft

Patino and Wiener are aiming to bring a broader emotional core to the series, exploring deeper themes alongside the high-stakes action.

“It is about power and violence and s*x and greed and vengeance. But more than anything, this is a show about the value of human connection, across cultures, across time. And it's about what we stand to lose as a species, when those connections break."

They also emphasized the strength of the collaboration behind the scenes.

“We've got an amazing team behind us with the folks at Ubisoft and our champions at Netflix, and we're committed to creating something undeniable for fans all over the planet."

The 2016 film, starring Michael Fassbender, failed to make an impact with either critics or longtime fans.

IMDB

Understanding the Psychology Behind Fandom

People's attachment to fictional characters and stories, such as those in video games, can be explained by the parasocial interaction theory. This refers to the one-sided emotional bond people develop with media figures or characters (Rubin, Perse, and Powell, 1985). The anticipation of new adaptations is fueled by a desire for continued interaction with beloved characters, which creates a sense of social connection.

While The Last of Us and Fallout have set a new standard for video game-to-TV adaptations, it’s worth noting that Assassin’s Creed already had one swing at live-action. The 2016 film, starring Michael Fassbender, failed to make an impact with either critics or longtime fans.

It currently holds a dismal 18 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a reminder that even a strong IP needs the right creative team to succeed.

This time, though, there’s cautious optimism. With a serialized format, more space for storytelling, and a clear passion from its showrunners, the Netflix version of Assassin’s Creed has the potential to be everything the movie wasn’t.

There’s no official release date yet, but as production gears up, fans can expect updates soon. If you’ve been searching for your next genre fix, this one is worth keeping on your radar.

What Research Shows About Anticipation and Reward

Anticipation of a future event or reward can itself be pleasurable, a concept backed by neuroscience studies (Knutson, Adams, Fong, and Hommer, 2001). As fans await the release of the live-action Assassin's Creed series, they may experience dopamine surges, which contributes to feelings of excitement and pleasure. This is part of the reason why the build-up to a new series can be as thrilling as watching the series itself.

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

In conclusion, the excitement over Netflix's new live-action adaptation is a complex interplay of psychological processes, from parasocial interaction and collective identity to anticipation and reward. Using these psychological theories, we can better understand the allure of video game adaptations and the power of fandom (Tsay-Vogel, Shanahan, and Signorielli, 2018; Knutson, Adams, Fong, and Hommer, 2001).