New 'Assassin's Creed' Image Reminds You That This Is Actually A Science Fiction Movie

The Assassin's Creed video game franchise may have suffered over the past few entries thanks to oppressive annualizing that forced developers to prioritize speed over quality, but the core of the series remains the perfect shade of silly. Each game puts you in control of a modern character who, through wacky science fiction nonsense that is never really explained, is able to tap into his "genetic memories" and relive the lives of his ancestors. Who were assassins. Who were fighting a war against an evil organization called the Templars. Which is a war that is still ongoing in the present.

The video games always prided themselves on their historical accuracy and the marketing for Justin Kurzel's film adaptation have followed suit, emphasizing star Michael Fassbender in 15th century Spanish garb. However, the latest still from the recently wrapped film is a reminder that this isn't just a historical thriller, but a sci-fi movie.

The photo below offers us a look at Fassbender as Callum Lynch, the modern guy who finds himself experiencing the past life of his deadly ancestor Aguilar, a deadly assassin operating in Spain centuries earlier. From the looks of things, Lynch may not be going through his ordeal of his own accord (shades of the first game in the series) since he seems to be passing time in a Templar prison cell. Feel free to aggressively zoom in on those charcoal drawings to see if you can find any secrets that connect the film to the game series. After all, this film won't be a direct adaptation of a single game, but rather another chapter in the overall franchise, existing alongside everything that has come before.

If you want further reminders that this is more than a period action film where Fassbender gets real stabby, you can read his comments where he compares the film to The Matrix...which isn't an inaccurate comparison, considering that both films involve characters plugging into different realities to discover their true selves.

Here is the official synopsis for the film:

Assassin's Creed follows a character by the name of Callum Lynch who, through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, is able to experience the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.

Assassin's Creed, which also stars Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Michael K. Williams, and Brendan Gleeson, is set for a December 21, 2016 release date.