Michael Fassbender to star in and co-produce 'Assassin's Creed'

Actor Michael Fassbender is set to star and co-produce "Assassin's Creed," based on the Ubisoft's video game series.

Michael Fassbender

Variety reports Fassbender will produce through his DMC Film banner with Conor McCaughan.

Ubosoft Motion Pictures CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet told Variety, "Michael Fassbender was our first choice" to play the series' hooded protagonist.

Ubisoft Motion Pictures was launched in January to handle film and TV productions of Ubisoft's projects, including "Assassins Creed," "Splinter Cell" and "Ghost Recon."

"Assassin's Creed" follows the ages long conflict between the Templars and Assassins, mixing history and science-fiction throughout the three-game (and soon to be four-game) series. The story centers on a bartender who is taken by a corporation which then makes him relive his past lives as an assassin.

According to Variety, Ubisoft Motion Pictures plans to develop the film independently, packaging the film project with a director and writer before resuming talks with a studio. It also hopes to save costs by handling the visual effects in house.

Fassbender has had  a solid two years, appearing as Magneto in "X-Men: First Class" and in Ridley Scott's "Prometheus." He also earned a number of awards and nominations for his work in "Shame."

Matthew Vaughn will return for 'X-Men: First Class' sequel

Most assumed it was only a matter of time, but now it is official. Director Matthew Vaughn will be back for the sequel of last summer's hit blockbuster, "X-Men: First Class."

The first film earned $353 million.

The prequel/reboot grossed $146 million domestically and another $207 million in foreign markets, but even more importantly became one of the best reviewed summer blockbusters of the year.

As first reported by Deadline, 20th Century Fox broke the story of Vaughn's return Monday at the same time they announced they had signed production president Emma Watts to a new contract.

Joining Vaughn will be returning producer Bryan Singer--who directed "X-Men" and "X2"--and scribe Simon Kinberg. The latter, unfortunately, was responsible for the script behind the lackluster "X-Men: Last Stand." On a brighter note, he was one of three people with screenplay credit for Robert Downey Jr.'s "Sherlock Holmes."

"First Class" featured James McAvoy as Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr, and both actors are expected to return as well.