Michael Fassbender played his share of video games in his youth.
Whats that second time around like?
Is there more shorthand and quick communication?
Michael Fassbender:It depends really.
And a shorthand does develop.
What I mean is the idea of DNA memory.
I just thought that was a really interesting catch and I thought that was very plausible theory.
So, I thought that was the first thing.
And then I just loved the idea of Templars versus Assassins.
Both of these factions, they contradict each other all the time; they contradict themselves all the time.
And theyre hypocritical of their beliefs.
And I thought that was cool.
Its been developing for a while.
What was the key aspect that made it ready to go?
We had a start date!
[Laughs] Were still workingwith these sort of films, youre always working on it.
And trying to bring it to the cinematic experience is different.
Whats also interesting about this as a blockbuster is youre the main character, but youre playing two characters.
Could you talk about how you differentiated these two personas for the film?
Well, one doesnt say a lot, and the other does!
[Laughs] Basically, we have in this story somebody who doesnt realize where hes coming from.
He doesnt have a lineage that he can feel a belonging to.
So, thats our modern day protagonist Cal: he doesnt realize hes an Assassin.
Hes a bit of a lost soul, and sort of always drifting in and out of correctional facilities.
And then of course Aguilar is somebody who belongs to the Creed.
And hopefully Aguilar will teach Cal from the regressions that he does belong.
But thats essentially the main difference between the two characters.
Would you consider this part of the same universe or just an adaptation?
You know, its all part of the same universe.
So thats why we have these new central characters.
Could you talk a little bit about that?
Well yeah, we just didnt want to have something where I sit into a seat, you know?
We wanted to have something where the character was actually physically involved in it.
Talking to Ubisoft, theyre thinking perhaps adopting some of these ideas.
But definitely not to have it so much be Cal a passenger on a chair basically.
We wanted to have something more interactive for that character in the present day stuff.
In your life, have you ever been a gamer?
What was your favorite gaming experience?
I always liked racing games.
[Laughs]
Yeah, its extraordinary.
I mean the detail.
I know a lot of gamers are fanatical about this stuff, the detail.
And the great sort of educational benefits of it, the sort of history elements of it.
I was talking to a friend of mine.
So, thats been a real education for me, playing theAssassinsgame.
you’re free to just see a 360-degree view of the city from that time.
Looking at Justins work, hes clearly a director with a singular vision.
Obviously, youre halfway through shooting.
When it comes out, do you think it will look like JustinsAssassins Creed?
And we incorporate all elements of film groupall the elements, all the departments together in putting it together.
Obviously this is going to be a very physical role.
Weve heard about the free running.
But what has been the most exciting or challenging part of the training process?
Not having enough of it?
So, were not using a lot of green screens.
Were doing it on an actual location.
We were out in Malta a month ago.
And its real old school like that.
And thats very much Justins vision.
Thats exciting to see it done that way, because nowadays its just not done that way anymore.
Its usually done in a studio.
Yeah, this helps for sure in this element.
Whats it been like, your experience working with Ubisoft?
So, theyve been more hands-on here, which has been great.
Thanks to them, I was introduced to this world.
Like I said, I didnt really know much about it.
Is there anything that does scare you?
Trust me, all of them scare me!
And give a shot to learn as much as I can, really.
But trust me, theres lot of healthy doses of fear in there.
Are you scared right now?
Right now, at this point in time, when you say it to me like that?Yes.
