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Netflix has officially cast its first star for the much-anticipated live-action Assassin’s Creed series: Toby Wallace. Best known for his turn in HBO's Euphoria and the feature Bikeriders, Wallace will take a prominent role in a show built on Ubisoft’s blockbuster franchise — a property with more than 230 million games sold and a devoted global fanbase.
What the series will be about
The show promises an original story within Assassin’s Creed’s signature mythos: a centuries-long covert struggle between two shadowy orders. One faction seeks to shape humanity’s destiny through manipulation and control, while the other fights to preserve free will. Rather than retelling an existing game narrative, Netflix’s adaptation will follow new characters as they navigate key historical moments and influence the arc of human history — a format that opens the door to sweeping period set pieces as well as modern-day intrigue.
Where and when production starts
Under the deal Netflix inked with Ubisoft in 2020, production is slated to begin in Italy in 2026. Italy will serve as the primary location, though the precise historical period the series will depict remains under wraps. The country’s rich architecture and cinematic landscapes make it an obvious choice for Assassin’s Creed, a franchise that has frequently used real-world historical backdrops to great effect.
Showrunners, tone, and pedigree
Roberto Patino — whose credits include work on Westworld and Sons of Anarchy — and David Wiener, known for The Killing and Halo, will serve as co-creators, showrunners, and executive producers. That creative pairing suggests Netflix aims for a blend of high-concept world-building and character-driven drama, leaning into the same mature, serialized storytelling that made other recent video game adaptations more successful.
Fans may draw comparisons to recent adaptations like The Last of Us or the Halo series: both have shown audiences that careful, reverent translation of game material can win critical and popular approval when paired with strong writing and production values. Assassin’s Creed’s sprawling historical scope, however, gives the series a chance to differentiate itself with multiple eras and locations across seasons.
Toby Wallace: a strategic casting
Wallace’s casting marks a return to Netflix (he previously appeared in The Society) and follows a busy schedule that includes wrapping season 3 of Euphoria for HBO. His range — from indie films like Eden and Last Days to TV appearances in Pistol — indicates a capacity to anchor complex, morally ambiguous characters.
“Wallace brings an intensity and intimacy that can ground a story as vast as Assassin’s Creed,” says cinema historian Marko Jensen. “If the series balances historical spectacle with human stakes, his performance could be the emotional center audiences need.”
Industry context and fan reaction
The news has sparked a flurry of responses across social channels. Fans of the games are cautiously optimistic: many praise the ambition of using new protagonists and historical threads rather than attempting a straight translation. Industry observers note this is part of a larger trend of streaming platforms investing in premium video game adaptations as a way to leverage existing IP with built-in audiences.
Behind the scenes, the involvement of writers experienced in genre television and serialized drama suggests Netflix is hedging toward a long-form series model — the kind that allows mythological reveals and multi-season character arcs rather than a single self-contained season.
Whether Assassin’s Creed will match the tonal highs of the games or become a distinct entry in the franchise remains to be seen. But with Toby Wallace’s casting, experienced showrunners on board, and production set in Italy, Netflix’s live-action take is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing TV adaptations on the horizon.
Final note: fans should temper expectation with patience — production won’t begin for a while, but the creative team’s pedigree makes this one to watch closely.
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