Movie Analysis
Only one month left till the return of Alan Rikkin to his office, which will take place March 25th, according to the his voice mail recording upon calling his office number +1 646-845-9162. There are various expectations rising, from the release of a teaser trailer to the reveal of the official movie poster and perhaps some changes and updates to the website www.abstergo.com or perhaps something entirely different.
So far, we know that the movie is set in Spain, during the inquisition, and will star Michael Fassbender playing the roles of Callum Lynch, the modern day Assassin and Aguilar, his historical counterpart and genetical ancestor whom he’ll relive his memories through the Animus, during the inquisition, in Spain, during the 15the century. The story will take Callum Lynch on an historical journey, and learn about his ancestors association with the Assassin.
Driven by incredible knowledge and skills he gained, he’s now determined to fight the oppressive Knights Templar in present day.
Michael Fassbender is joined by an incredible cast, including Marion Cotillard, who will play the role of Alan Rikkin’s daughter. Jermey Irons, who will play the role if Alan Rikkin, the CEO of Abstergo Industries, the facade of the Templars in modern day. Brendan Gleeson, will play the role of Callum Lynch’s father, who is reportedly called Joseph. Michael K. Williams, Ariana Labed, Carlos Bardem, Matias Varela, Denis Ménochet, Hovik Keuchkerian and Javier Gutiérrez will also play various characters, yet to be confirmed, officially.
Photos from set, as well as story synopsis confirmed the appearance of Abstergo Industries in the movie. Some shots showed Fassbender, as Callum Lynch, in what seems to be his prison cell at Abstergo Industries/Bunker, wearing a white patient/prisoner’s outfit with ER (Letter ‘E’ is not fully shown) indicating being admitted to an emergency room, joined by what seems like a priest, reciting from the Bible.
The wall behind him is covered in various writings, which show different types of symbols, words, written in different colors, implying previous patients/test subjects being admitted to this cell, and obviously were subjected to the Lineage Research & Acquisition, explaining the various symbols that resemble the ones shown in Desmond Miles’ room in the first Assassin’s Creed game.
There are various symbols showing crosses and crucifixes, presumably referring to the Templars. A heart shape with “Lucia” written in the middle is shown, a maze along with the word “DEATH” is written on top of it can also be seen alongside an equation that states “‘2=10=α”, a nod to Clay Kaczmarek’s Bleeding Effect crisis told throughout the Desmond Saga. Playing card shapes are also shown in addition to a Pentagram.
Names such as “Tomas”, “Tobz”, “Rory H.”, “Ramiko”, “Aximo”, “Sergio”, “Santiago”, Kamen”, “Boyd”, “Mario” and “Pietro” are shown all over the wall, written in different types of handwriting and engraving/scratching, and various colors. Statements such as “We suffering in our land”, “Jesus K***NENa*C Sacrifice”, “DF ATE X”.
The names suggest people from multiple nationalities/racial backgrounds, but many names such as Sergio, Santiago, Pietro and Mario suggest Spanish and Italian subjects. This could either be an evidence that the modern day segment will take place at Abstergo Industries, in Spain or perhaps Italy, the same as Assassin’s Creed games, where Desmond was taken.
We must also note that the Alan Rikkin card business card which carried the email address, website, and phone numbers of Alan Rikkin’s office, also had Abstergo Industries Madrid, Spain, Confirming that the modern day segment will indeed take place in Madrid, Spain. Calling either of the numbers had the voice message from which I concluded that a special thing is to be reveled on March 25th.
In one of the official stills from the the movie, Fassbender as Aguilar, is seen wielding the same sword shown in the modern day segment stills, at Abstergo Industries. Aguilar is also seen held up in chains and fighting furiously, implying he was imprisoned or sentenced for execution, but fled and took the sword of a Templar (other warriors are seen wielding swords with similar handles).
The screenshot also shows burning flames near two tall poles, implying the execution method was burning at the stake (notice the wood and hay at the foot of each pole). It was once reported that Aguilar was driven by revenge, so this could mean that he lost somebody in this execution, be it a family member, a lover or a friend. Fassbender (as Aguilar) is also seen right next to his co-star, Ariane Labed, dressed as an Assassin, and both laying over what looks like a rooftop, in another movie still from set, implying that she will be either his love interest, sister or his companion.
As of the late 15th century, an Assassins Guild was located in the Spanish city of Barcelona. With a firm base in the city, the Spanish Assassins had close connections to the Spanish royal house – namely King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I – and kept a close eye on them, making sure that the Borgia and the Templars did not possess too big of an influence over them.
Since the movie is confirmed to take place during the 15th Century in Spain, the Assassin Mentor, Ezio Auditore visited Spain sometime in 1491.
In 1491, Rodrigo Borgia, the Grand Master of the Templar Order, was able to fool the Spanish Inquisitor General Tomás de Torquemada into believing that the Assassins were heretics, and ordered them to be tried and executed. Torquemada, believing Rodrigo was a true follower of the church like him, followed Rodrigo's orders and had several Assassins across the country captured.
This leads me to believe that Ezio Auditore will most likely make some form of appearance in the movie, whether in a cameo, an epilogue, a post-credits scene or maybe only mentioned by name. Especially that it was officially confirmed that there will be 'familiar faces in the movie. Whether this means historical, modern day or from the First Civilization characters, is yet to be confirmed.
Several notable figures could make some form of appearance or get mentioned in the movie, either real historical figures or fictional ones, related to the Creed or the Templar order, such as: King Ferdinand II, Queen Isabella I, Rodrigo Borgia, Cesare Borgia, Spanish Inquisitor General Tomás de Torquemada, Luis de Santángel, Christoffa Corombo, Raphael Sánchez, Gaspar Martínez, Pedro Llorente, and Juan de Marillo, King John III of Navarre, and the Moors.
