Variety is reporting that Sony Pictures is looking to secure the movie rights to the Assassin's Creed franchise. Ubisoft has shopped around the license to various studios, which resulted in a bidding war with other studios like Universal.
Ubisoft has recently launched Ubisoft Motion Pictures, headed up by former CEO of EuropaCorp Jean-Julien Baronnet, in order to seek closer relationships with entertainment partners. Ubisoft Motion Pictures wants to retain more creative control over their properties than usually happens in one-off licensing deals with studios, something that favored Sony.
Both parties are looking to turn Assassin's Creed into a major tentpole release, which would probably mean Sony would likely co-produce and co-finance the production rather than Ubisoft footing the entire bill.
They're no doubt hoping that Assassin's Creed fares better than Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time did. A major film adaptation from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, it only took in $91 million from the U.S. box office and $335 million worldwide.
