Assassin's Creed (2016)
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A man sentenced to death is abducted by a shadowy organization to unlock his ancestors' genetic memories.
The story
In 2016, Callum "Cal" Lynch is sentenced to death but is instead abducted by Abstergo Industries, a subsidiary of the Templar Order. Because of his unique heritage, Cal is taken to a research facility in Madrid where he is placed in the Animus, a machine that allows scientists to observe the genetic memories of his ancestors. The Templars seek the Apple of Eden, an ancient artifact capable of controlling humanity's free will. Cal must navigate these memories to help the organization locate the artifact while grappling with his own identity and the secrets of his lineage.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1492 Andalusia, Aguilar de Nerha joins the Assassin Brotherhood to protect Prince Ahmed of Granada from the Templars. In 1986, Cal's father Joseph, an Assassin, is captured by Abstergo Industries after Cal witnesses his mother's murder. In 2016, Cal is abducted by Abstergo and placed in the Animus to access Aguilar's memories. While in the Animus, Cal experiences 'the Bleeding Effect,' seeing both Aguilar and Joseph. Aguilar and his partner María are captured by the Templar Grand Master Tomas de Torquemada but eventually escape after María sacrifices herself to protect the Apple of Eden. Aguilar gives the Apple to Christopher Columbus. In the present, Cal confronts Joseph at the facility, learning that his mother chose to die to prevent Abstergo from using her memories. Cal eventually embraces his Assassin heritage, assimilates Aguilar's skills, and escapes the facility with other prisoners. He eventually retrieves the Apple from Columbus' burial vault, kills the Templar CEO Alan Rikkin, and joins the Assassins to protect the artifact.
- First release year
- 2016
- Runtime (minutes)
- 125
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English; Spanish
- Directors
- Justin Kurzel
- Writers
- Michael Lesslie · screenplay; Adam Cooper · rewrite; Bill Collage · rewrite
- Cast and characters
- Michael Fassbender · Callum "Cal" Lynch and Aguilar de Nerha; Marion Cotillard · Dr. Sofia Rikkin; Jeremy Irons · Alan Rikkin; Brendan Gleeson · Joseph Lynch; Charlotte Rampling · Ellen Kaye; Michael K. Williams · Moussa; Ariane Labed · María; Angus Brown · Young Cal
- Genres
- science fiction; action; fantasy adventure
- Themes
- Free will; Heritage; Legacy; Control
- Tone and mood
- Action-oriented; Serious; Dystopian
- Premise and plot tags
- Time Travel; Genetic Memory; Secret Societies; Historical Fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- video game series by Ubisoft
- Franchise connections
- Assassin's Creed
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics and underperformed at the box-office, leading to the cancellation of planned sequels.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 36 · scale: 100 · review count: 38; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film features a 'Leap of Faith' jump performed by a stunt double rather than a digital double.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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