PRODUCTION / FUNDING France / USA
Netflix’s Assassin’s Creed series kicks off production in Rome with an expanded ensemble cast
- Johan Renck's show tells an original story expanding on the universe established in the games, which revolves around the centuries-long conflict between Assassins and Templars
Production has begun in Rome on the live-action adaptation of the blockbuster video-game franchise Assassin's Creed for Netflix, with filming primarily taking place at Cinecittà Studios. The high-end project is being helmed by Sweden's Johan Renck, who scooped an Emmy Award in 2019 for his work on the acclaimed HBO mini-series Chernobyl.
Set in Rome in 64 AD, the series will tell an original story within the long-running universe created by Ubisoft, exploring the clandestine conflict between two opposing factions whose struggle unfolds across pivotal moments in human history.
The narrative centres on a centuries-long secret war between the authoritarian Templar Order – seeking to control humanity’s destiny through manipulation – and the Assassin Brotherhood, who aim to safeguard free will. In keeping with the franchise’s signature blend of historical drama and action-thriller storytelling, the series follows multiple characters whose personal journeys intersect with key turning points in civilisation.
Moreover, the year 64 AD is chiefly remembered for the Great Fire of Rome, which is believed to have begun near the city’s chariot-racing arena, the Circus Maximus. The blaze raged for several days while Emperor Nero was away in the coastal resort of Antium, giving rise to the enduring expression that “Nero fiddled while Rome burned”. Although Nero was widely accused of starting the fire in order to sidestep the Senate and rebuild the capital according to his own vision, most modern historians consider the catastrophe to have been accidental.
The project will be filmed entirely in Italy. Shooting kicked off on 9 March and is scheduled to continue for seven months, wrapping on 16 October, with a potential release on Netflix in 2027. After wrapping filming at Cinecittà, the production will also shoot on location across Latium and Tuscany. Notably, the production is expanding the large-scale Ancient Rome set already built on Cinecittà’s backlot, allowing the series to recreate the imperial capital at the height of the Roman Empire. The Italian studio complex has long served as one of Europe’s most important production hubs, hosting both domestic and international projects drawn by its extensive facilities and historical sets.
The cast features a mix of emerging and established international talent. Newly announced recurring performers include Danish actress Sandra Guldberg-Kampp, known for appearances in Foundation and The Rain; British-Moroccan thesp Youssef Kerkour (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms); Scottish actress Mirren Mack (Hedda, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple [+see also:
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They join a previously announced ensemble that includes Lola Petticrew (Say Nothing), Toby Wallace (Euphoria season 3), Laura Marcus (Death by Lightning), Tanzyn Crawford (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), Zachary Hart (Slow Horses), Nabhaan Rizwan (In Camera [+see also:
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The project is overseen by showrunners and executive producers Roberto Patino (DMZ, Westworld, Sons of Anarchy) and David Wiener (Halo, Homecoming, The Killing). Executive producers also include Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, Austin Dill and Genevieve Jones on behalf of Ubisoft Film & Television (France), alongside Matt O’Toole.
Key creatives include costume designer Carlo Poggioli (The Leopard, The New Pope [+see also:
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