Assassin’s Creed series finally finds its director

Netflix’s long in development Assassin’s Creed live action series has taken a major step forward with the confirmation of its director, a move that has reignited excitement and debate among fans of the sprawling video game franchise. Johan Renck, the Emmy winning filmmaker best known for HBO’s critically acclaimed series Chernobyl, has signed on to direct the upcoming adaptation, marking one of the most high profile creative choices attached to the project so far.

The series is being developed as part of Netflix’s partnership with Ubisoft, an agreement first announced in 2020 and designed to bring the publisher’s biggest properties to television. Assassin’s Creed was officially revealed as the first series under that deal earlier this year, with casting announcements already confirming Toby Wallace and Lola Petticrew as the central leads, supported by Zachary Hart and Laura Marcus in recurring roles. While plot specifics remain tightly guarded, the show’s logline promises a story rooted in the secret war between rival factions fighting over control, free will, and the future of humanity, played out across pivotal moments in history.

Renck’s appointment has been widely interpreted as a signal of Netflix’s ambitions for the project. His work on Chernobyl earned widespread praise for its restrained tension, emotional weight, and meticulous attention to detail, qualities fans believe could translate well to the morally complex world of Assassin’s Creed. Beyond that series, Renck has directed episodes of Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Vikings, and Bates Motel, building a reputation for grounded storytelling within large scale productions.

Online reaction to the news was swift. On Reddit and across social media, fans expressed cautious optimism, with many highlighting Renck’s ability to handle dark subject matter and historical settings. Others joked that if he brought even a fraction of Chernobyl’s intensity to the series, the long troubled screen history of Assassin’s Creed might finally find redemption after the divisive 2016 film adaptation starring Michael Fassbender. Some users also debated whether Renck’s grounded style would align with the franchise’s more fantastical elements, particularly the Animus and its time shifting mechanics.

Behind the scenes, creators Roberto Patino and David Wiener continue to shape the series as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Ubisoft Film and Television executives who have stressed a desire to respect the games while crafting a story accessible to newcomers. With over 230 million copies sold worldwide since the franchise debuted in 2007, expectations remain high and scrutiny intense.

While a release date has yet to be announced, Renck’s involvement suggests Netflix is positioning Assassin’s Creed as a prestige global drama rather than a straightforward action series. For fans who have waited years to see the franchise done justice on screen, this latest development feels like the clearest sign yet that the project is moving decisively forward.