Ubisoft are doing something right; after securing Michael Fassbender to not only lead, but also produce, an adaptation of their videogame Assassin’s Creed, they’ve now grabbed another high-profile start to lead a feature version of one of their most popular series. Variety reports that Tom Hardy, after flexing some spy muscle in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, has signed on to star in Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.
This comes directly after news from Collider that The International scribe Eric Warren Singer has been tasked with writing the script. While there is no word which major studio will pick it up, we heard over the summer that Paramount is expressing interest and the Hardy-friendly Warner Bros. are also in the mix.
In the project, Hardy would be taking the role of highly skilled Black Ops agent Sam Fisher, who continually gets involved in a series of tense situations. While videogame adaptations have usually been the lowpoint in cinema each year, hopefully these two Ubisoft projects can elevate the genre. Check out Ubisoft Pictures CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet‘s comments below:
“Tom Hardy is currently one of the biggest talents in the film industry, and he has a phenomenal ability to take on complex and varied roles with his broad range of acting skills. His involvement in the ‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell’ movie is exciting news for movie and video game fans alike. Meanwhile, Eric Singer is one of the most talented writers of the moment, and … we’re confident he’ll bring a fresh approach and create a thrilling story … while still respecting all the codes and traditions of the franchise that are so important to fans.”
Do you think Hardy fits the role?