FX Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed Netflix and Ubisoft Television’s Future

Two weeks’ time ago, a surprise announcement was made. Out of the blue, it was announced FX will be producing an anthology series for Disney+ and Hulu, based on what might be Ubisoft’s second most popular flagship franchise, Far Cry. Not even a day later, another surprise announcement was made, the long awaited and highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed series for Netflix, at long last announcing its first cast member.

Looking at it objectively, it would seem Ubisoft Television is starting to live up to its full potential, with planned and new projects taking shape, but are things that simple? Of these recent announcements, one came out of the blue but seems to already have taken as much as shape as possible, while the other despite having been in the air for half a decade now, seems to be going nowhere as fast compared to. Why is that, what will these two shows based on Ubisoft’s two most iconic flagship franchises consist of, and what impact will they have on Ubisoft Television? We will be exploring this and more in this article. Let’s dive into it!

FX Far Cry

As mentioned, on 24th November it was suddenly announced an anthology series based on the hit franchise was to be produced by FX. The show is to be created by Noah Hawley and Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney), latter who is also set to star in it. Hawley is known for creating the X-Men based show Legion that ran in the late 10’s, and more recently Alien Earth. Mac is known for creating and starring in hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and in recent years the hit documentary series Welcome To Wrexham, co-owning the Welsh football club alongside Ryan Reynolds. All these shows are under FX as well. Most of the show’s executive producers were announced too, one of them being Gérard Guillemot, Ubisoft Television CEO and brother of Yves, CEO of the main company. Additionally, Mac already has a working relationship with Ubisoft Television under his belt, them producing the Apple TV+ original comedy show Mythic Quest that concluded in the beginning of the year, which he co-created and starred in.

So far, almost nothing is known about the series, other than it will feature a new setting plus roster of characters, with every season telling a new story. Whether it will be set in the same universe as the games or not, it is probably safe to say the narrative possibilities are close to endless. There will be many ways to bring the games’ core theme of survival in a desolate location to the screen, all tied together by a psychotic, maniacal villain. Being in film format, it is likely safe to assume most of it will be seen from a third person perspective, but to stay true to the core of the games, sequences uniquely filmed in and seen from first person perspective are almost a must.

If the series will be connected to the same universe as the games, references to iconic characters at the very least, or the direct feature of feels like another mandatory homage. This could even be a great way to explore unknown parts of certain characters’ lives, providing additional and essential backstory. Be it exploring the past of protagonists like Jason Brody and Ajay Ghale, the traumatic childhoods of Joseph Seed / The Father and his brothers, or Pagan Min’s tragic romance. This would also be the ideal opportunity for the actors who portrayed these iconic villains to return, reprising their characters in a live action format with their own face. The Father’s likeness was famously based on Greg Bryk who portrayed him, and Vaas Montenegro remains one of if not Michael Mando’s most iconic role. Both have also already played their iconic villain characters in a live action setting, with the franchise being no stranger to such a format either. In 2012 leading up to the release of Far Cry 3, Mando famously portrayed Vaas in the The Far Cry Experience promotion short film. The same was done in 2018 leading up to the release of Far Cry 5, with a number of cinematic trailers and the also short film Inside Eden’s Gate, Bryk portraying The Father.

More news and information on this show based on the flagship franchise are bound to come sooner than later, and it is already taking shape nicely. Already being familiar with the live action landscape and with a great team behind it, it has lots of potential and is bound to be a success if executed correctly. The only real reason for concern would ultimately be, can Mac who is almost solely known for comedy, switch things up to what has to be a much more serious role? Well, if you count the few just somewhat serious parts of It’s Always Sunny… and Mythic Quest, he absolutely can.

Assassin’s Creed Netflix Series

Not even a day after the news of the Far Cry series, the Ubisoft Television news continued. At long last, the first cast member of the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed series for Netflix was announced, in the form of Toby Wallace, known for the also Netflix show The Society, films like Babyteeth and The Bikeriders. He is also set to star in the third season of HBO’s hit show Euphoria, set to come out next year.

The AC Netflix series has been in the air for a good while now, originally being announced more than a half a decade ago, when Ubisoft signed a deal with Netflix in 2020. After that, it would be years before more news on the show came at all, leaving fans wondering if it would ever actually take shape and become an official thing. It was only earlier this year that the show’s writers, producers and showrunners were announced, and with the cast list slowly rolling out as well, it seems like the show is at last beginning to take shape. Set as showrunners are Roberto Patino and David Wiener, who are known for working on shows like Sons Of Anarchy, Westworld, Halo and more.

But why is the highly anticipated series only beginning to properly take shape this long after initial announcement? Is it related to Ubisoft’s dwindling reputation in recent years, (longtime) fans losing faith in the franchise, other setbacks or something else? Was the series considered being scrapped? Maybe ultimately none of those things. While said things may or may not have an effect on it, it is also possible time and resources were merely dedicated to other projects, or putting together a production team and finding the show’s angle took longer than expected. Nonetheless, both of those things are at last slowly coming together now.

In addition to the announcement of the first cast member, it seems we are also starting to get a picture of when production on the show will properly begin. According to Nexus Point News, sources have said the show is set to start filming in Italy in early 2026. A return to Italy, what could that possibly include? Italy is famously the setting of some of the most iconic instalments in the franchise, and the birthplace of its most legendary character. Albeit, nothing yet points to a return to the Renaissance, nor the return of Ezio Auditore. According to Nexus, the series will be exploring a different part of Italian history, that ultimately isn’t a complete stranger to the world of AC; Ancient Rome. It will reportedly centre around real historical figures such as the infamous Emperor Nero, and be set around the middle of the first century AD, exploring the Roman Empire and its absolute height.

As said, even if there hasn’t been a game directly set in Ancient Rome, the franchise is no complete stranger to it. In Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood set in the city, there were callbacks to the antiquity, for example in the form of letters from and the Armour of Brutus. Some years later, the end of Assassin’s Creed Origins, took players to the time period directly, Aya / Amunet assisting Brutus and accomplices in the famous assassination of Julius Caesar. This event takes place roughly 100 years before the series’ reported setting, but that time period still has lots of potential, and not exploring it could become a missed opportunity, exploring everything from The Hidden Ones’ origins and Brutus’ (of course donning his iconic armour) role in, origins of the Italian brotherhood Ezio would lead 1500 years later and more, and of course in context of the series, backstory on things that eventually play out a century later under the rule of Nero.

And of course, what will the primary first century setting include, and how can its historical characters be rewritten into AC lore? Emperor Nero and the larger history surrounding him, is probably one of the most known in Roman history for better or worse. While Nero in his early reign did pass things such as forbidding fights to the death for sport and entertainment, tax reduction and better treatment for slaves, one is not to be fooled by his supposed generosity. Eventually, his true self showed, using his position of power to satisfy own pleasures, rioting in the streets, ordering the death of his Mother and wife, supposedly being behind the burning of Rome to rebuild it in a Greek style and more. All this not even for the good of some alternate agenda, but because he simply enjoyed it for his own pleasure; did Nero as The Joker would say, simply want to watch the world burn? Maybe, maybe not.

Another interesting aspect of his life, is his upbringing, family relations and way to power, ultimately set in motion by his Mother, Julia Agrippina, who after poisoning her husband and Nero’s Father, married her uncle Emperor Claudius, securing Nero as successor to the throne. Ultimately, his Mother hoped to control the Roman government through her son, but he decided to act independently. This could be rewritten to suit the show in different ways. For example, Nero’s Father - Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus - could secretly have been sympathetic to The Hidden Ones’ cause. Fearing him influencing their son, Nero’s mother, a secret member of the Order Of The Ancients, takes matters into her own hands, securing the Order’s grip on the Roman Empire once again, through her son as successor. Eventually, things don’t go to plan, Nero seemingly using his position of power for his own pleasure over the good of the Order, perhaps similarly to another iconic also Italian AC antagonist, Cesare Borgia. What leads to this supposed insanity though? Is it just his nature, or could that also find its AC twist? Maybe Nero was a Sage - another human reincarnation of Aita of the Isu - but he never found balance with the secondary mind living inside of him, eventually leaving him with no self control or picture of reality, hence his mischief.

Other than this, much still isn’t known about the show, but more news are bound to come in a near future, hopefully also as it at last reportedly starts filming next year. Details on Wallace’s role is still kept under rugs, and whether his character will be sympathetic to the Hidden Ones or Order Of The Ancients, only time will tell. Overall, after half a decade of uncertainty, the show is at last nicely taking shape with a team behind it, the cast list slowly forming, and a shooting and production window within range.

Impact on Ubisoft Television

Ubisoft’s TV division has been around for a while now, but have yet to really leave their mark with numerous major landmark projects. Their first output, the Assassin’s Creed film from 2016, wasn’t necessarily a success, receiving mostly negative reviews from critics, and underperforming at the box office. In recent years, their most popular output has probably been mentioned Mythic Quest, which despite cancelation after its fourth season earlier in the year, had a successful run over 5 years.

Shows based on two of the company’s most iconic flagship franchises, definitely have the potential to take the company to completely new heights though. After all, we live in a time where the video game adaptation curse has at last mostly been lifted, with shows like The Last Of Us for HBO, and Fallout for Amazon in recent years. If executed correctly, one studio having two successful adaptations, could put them at the front of adapting video games for the screen, setting the standard for it going forward. In addition to these two shows, Ubisoft Television also have a series of other projects lined up, including a project based on Rabbids, as well as a film based on Tom Clancy’s The Division, set to be directed by David Leitch (Fast & Furious Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2, John Wick), starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain.

Additionally, should Ubisoft rely more on their TV division to uphold the company and its reputation in the next years? As mentioned, the company has infamously been on a downward trajectory in recent years after internal scandals, losing fans’ trust, plummeting stock prices, financial struggles, potential private buyouts and more. While they are likely slowly coming back from said financial trouble, as well as the controversial marketing campaign for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the company still has way to go. On the games front, they have for a while now struggled to put out hit after hit like in the early 10’s; both major titles in 2024 underperformed, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has so far failed to create an enduring legacy, and a good chunk of fans are skeptical of the future. So depending on what the company has in store for the future in terms of their games, a successfully growing TV division and its output, definitely has the potential to uphold the company where games might fail, keep old fans hooked, as well as likely bring in an array of new ones, especially in the non-gamer demographic.

Conclusion

Overall, big days are ahead for Ubisoft Television, with adaptations of two of the company’s most iconic franchises coming in the near future. Both have strong teams behind them and are taking shape nicely, and if executed correctly, they have the potential to change the game of video game adaptations, and to take the company to new heights. What are your thoughts on this, and what are your expectations for both shows, and what do you hope to seem them consist of? Let us know, and stay tuned for more articles covering everything Assassin’s Creed and Ubisoft!

Sources

• https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/far-cry-tv-series-fx-noah-hawley-rob-mac-1236591190/

• https://www.nexuspointnews.com/post/exclusive-netflix-s-assassin-s-creed-set-to-explore-ancient-rome

• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nero-Roman-emperor#ref5178