Game developer Ubisoft, famous for creating AAA franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Prince of Persia is launching a new film studio dedicated entirely to video game adaptations according to an article in Variety. The Paris-based film division will be run by Jean-Julien Baronnet, and, “producer Didier Lupfer is in charge of production and development, while Jean de Rivieres, former topper of distribution at Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures France, handles marketing and international sales,” said Variety.
In a time where most of us can agree that video game movie franchises are crap, Ubisoft has a lot to work with and has proven that it can be done well. Their Prince of Persia film adaptation grossed about $335 million world wide, the highest of any video game movie. So with properties like Splinter Cell, Assassin’s Creed, and Ghost Recon, if Ubisoft can capitalize on the world of the games instead of following the game’s story exactly, this might be a very fruitful venture.