Netflix’s live-action Assassin’s Creed series will be set in Ancient Rome, and kick off in the year 64 AD.
Various reports had pointed to a Roman Empire-set series previously, though Ubisoft today confirmed the exact time period and setting via a post on social media, alongside a recap of the show’s large cast.
History buffs will know that 64 AD kicks off a particularly turbulent time for Rome, which also makes it a strong setting for an Assassin’s Creed story. This was the year that two-thirds of the city was destroyed by fire, a major event in Rome’s history whose cause remains unknown.
The fire sparked a wave of Christian persecution by Emperor Nero, who was keen to find a scapegoat. The following year, Nero was then the target of a notable assassination plot (which failed, spoilers), something that seems certain to be included in the series.
Nero continued on for several years, despite growing conflicts within the empire. Rather than deal with those, however, Nero famously popped over to Ancient Greece to compete in the Olympic Games. Mysteriously, he was allowed to win every contest he entered (earning some 1,808 prizes overall).
Events from this period finally came to a head in 68 AD, as Nero fell from power and left the empire on the brink of civil war. All in all, then, there’s plenty here for an Assassin’s Creed tale.
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has visited Rome before, of course, most notably in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, though this was set over 1,000 years later, when the Roman Empire was already ancient history. Outside of the series’ many games, graphic novels have featured some actual Roman action — though it’s believed that the Netflix show will tell an original story.
The series will feature an ensemble cast led by Toby Wallace (Babyteeth), Lola Petticrew (Say Nothing), and Laura Marcus (The Jetty). Tanzyn Crawford, Zachary Hart, Nabhaan Rizwan, Claes Bang, Noomi Rapace, Ramzy Bedia, Sean Harris, Corrado Invernizzi, Sandra Guldberg Kamp, Youseff Kerkour and Mirren Mack also star.
Filming has now begun in Italy, though there’s no word yet on when the series will actually launch.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
