Assassin’s Creed series gathers cast as Netflix sets 2026 production

Netflix and Ubisoft have advanced plans for a live-action television adaptation of Assassin’s Creed, confirming a principal cast line-up and a director ahead of production scheduled to begin in 2026, signalling renewed momentum for a project long in development.

The streamer said the series will draw on the long-running video game franchise’s central themes of covert warfare between Assassins and Templars, with a narrative expected to span multiple periods through the use of the Animus, a device that allows characters to relive ancestral memories. While character names and story arcs remain under wraps, the production has assembled a mix of established and emerging screen talent, suggesting an ensemble approach rather than a single-protagonist format.

Among those attached is Toby Wallace, whose performances in Babyteeth and The Bikeriders established him as a versatile dramatic lead capable of balancing intensity and vulnerability. Wallace’s casting is viewed by industry observers as an indication that the series may prioritise character-driven storytelling alongside action, a lesson drawn from mixed critical responses to earlier film adaptations of video game properties.

Zachary Hart has also joined the project. Hart is recognised for his work on the Apple TV+ espionage drama Slow Horses, a series praised for its sharp dialogue and grounded tension. His presence adds further weight to expectations that Assassin’s Creed will lean into political intrigue and moral ambiguity rather than relying solely on spectacle.

Lola Petticrew, who gained wider attention through the television drama Say Nothing, is another confirmed cast member. Petticrew’s recent work has highlighted an ability to handle complex emotional material, aligning with Ubisoft’s stated aim of exploring the human cost of ideological conflict within the Assassin’s Creed universe.

Laura Marcus, whose credits include Death by Lightning and an upcoming appearance in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, brings additional profile to the ensemble. Her involvement points to Netflix’s intention to anchor the series with performers familiar to both film and television audiences, broadening its appeal beyond existing fans of the games.

Tanzyn Crawford rounds out the announced cast. Crawford is set to appear in the forthcoming Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and her inclusion underscores the overlap in audience Netflix is targeting: viewers drawn to expansive world-building, historical settings and long-form serial storytelling.

The director for the series has been named, according to people familiar with the production, though Netflix has yet to disclose full creative details. The appointment marks a key step in moving the project from development into active pre-production, following years of intermittent updates since Netflix first announced its partnership with Ubisoft to adapt the franchise for television.

Ubisoft Film & Television, which is overseeing the adaptation alongside Netflix, has emphasised that the series will not retell the plot of any single game. Instead, it is expected to weave an original story set within the established mythology, allowing for flexibility in tone and setting while maintaining recognisable elements such as parkour-driven action, hidden blades and secret societies operating in the shadows of history.

The move reflects a broader trend among streaming platforms to mine established gaming franchises for premium television content, as competition for global audiences intensifies. Netflix has already found success with adaptations such as Arcane and The Witcher, though the latter has also illustrated the challenges of balancing fan expectations with creative reinvention. Industry analysts note that Assassin’s Creed carries similar risks, given its sprawling lore and passionate fan base.

Production timing places the series within a crowded release pipeline for Netflix in 2026, a year expected to feature several high-budget genre titles. For Ubisoft, the show represents another attempt to translate one of its flagship properties into a sustained screen presence after the 2016 feature film adaptation received uneven reviews despite solid box-office returns.