Ubisoft has faced yet another setback in its attempts to bring its popular video game franchises to the big screen. The latest casualty is the planned Splinter Cell movie, which has officially been canceled. This news comes as a disappointment to fans who were eagerly anticipating seeing Tom Hardy as the iconic Sam Fisher.
The Splinter Cell movie was first announced back in 2012, with Tom Hardy set to star as the stealthy operative. Despite having big names attached to the project, including Eric Warren Singer as the writer and Doug Liman as the director, the movie never managed to get off the ground. Producer Basil Iwanyk revealed that the project was scrapped due to issues with the script and budget, despite his belief that it had the potential to be “hardcore and awesome.”
While the cancellation of the Splinter Cell movie is a blow to fans, Ubisoft is not giving up on bringing its franchises to life in other ways. The company has a dedicated division, Ubisoft Film & Television, focused on adapting its IPs for non-interactive screens. Projects in the works include animated series for Far Cry and Splinter Cell on Netflix, as well as a Watch Dogs movie with Sony.
In addition to its film and TV endeavors, Ubisoft has found success with the Apple+ TV series Mythic Quest and has plans for a new season and a spin-off. Despite the disappointment of the canceled Splinter Cell movie, fans can look forward to the upcoming Netflix animation Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, which promises to deliver the stealthy action they crave.
While Ubisoft has had its share of setbacks and canceled projects, the company remains dedicated to bringing its beloved franchises to new audiences through different mediums. Though the Splinter Cell movie may never see the light of day, fans can take solace in the fact that there are still plenty of exciting projects in the works, ensuring that the spirit of their favorite games will live on in new and creative ways.
