On Wednesday May 11, 20th Century Fox finally released the first trailer of the anticipated live-action movie adaptation of the Assassin’s Creed video game franchise. We got to see how the critically-acclaimed set of games will be portrayed on the big screen and it looks completely phenomenal. 

In a span of two minutes and 20 seconds, we got to see how many of the aspects that made the franchise great are present in the movie, and to the extent that Fox is adapting them to the live-action film. 

While the movie is not a cinematic portrayal of one of the games, and more like a further continuation of the saga, we can expect many similar things from the games appear in the movie.

The Assassin’s Creed movie is set during the Spanish Inquisition, a time when Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain had the vision of having an only-Catholic Spanish Empire, by casting out of the country, and sometimes even worst consequences (torture and death), any person who had not converted to the faith, or any converted person who was under suspicion of still following their old religion. 

The Inquisition Tribunal by Francisco de Goya

From this, we can expect an overload of stealthy assassins roaming around Granada, Aragon, and Valencia, taking down the opposing Order of the Knights Templar. 

It was in those Spanish regions that the Inquisition mostly took its toll, since those regions were predominantly occupied by Spanish Moors and Jews. 

The Spanish Inquisition started in November of 1478, and lasted up until its abolition in 1834.

Based on the trailer, the movie will be set during the most rigorous times of the Spanish Inquisition: sometime around 1492, which was also the year when Ferdinand and Isabella conquered Granada and culminated the Reconquista. 

With the movie set in the late 15th century, then we could also probably expect the appearance of Rodrigo Borgia aka Pope Alexander VI. 

Rodrigo Borgia was the main antagonist and a top member of the Templar Order in the second installment of the Assassin’s Creed line of games. He could potentially be who we see at minute 1:13 of the trailer.

Another possible character from the games that could be present in the movie is Ezio Auditore himself. While I don’t think we will see him portrayed on screen, he could most likely be mentioned by name.

Like in the game, we can also expect there to be some kind of conflict in the Abstergo facility where the Animus program is taking place. 

At minute 1:19 of the trailer we can see what looks like a group of armed police guards rushing towards the camera. In Assassin’s Creed 2, in the beginning of the game Desmond Miles has to escape Abstergo Industries with the help of Lucy, a secret mole within Abstergo, fighting guards throughout their escape. Something similar could possibly happen in the Assassin’s Creed movie. 

While we will have to wait and see when the second trailer arrives, or when the movie releases, if any of the Pieces of Eden will be present in the movie, it is likely that at least one will, since it is the reason why Abstergo was surfing through the memories of their captives in the games. 

With the appearance of a Piece of Eden, could the Isu (Those Who Came Before) be present or mentioned in the movie?

Those Who Came Before

Depending on the praise of the movie by fans and critics when it premieres later in the year, I think it’s more plausible that the Isu will be portrayed on screen in a possible sequel. Though, they could be mentioned or referenced some time in the movie; end-credit scene?

Assassin’s Creed: The Movie is scheduled to release on December 21, and stars Michael Fassbender (Magneto in X-Men: Apocalyspe) as the protagonist Callum Lynch/Aguilar de Nerha, Marion Cotillard (Miranda Tate/Talia al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises), and Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice).