Michael Fassbender, of X-Men: First Class and Prometheus fame, will star in as well as co-produce the silver screen adaptation of Assassin's Creed.

The film seems likely to take place during the Crusades or the Renaissance, rather than the American Revolution setting of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed III, although nothing has been confirmed so far.

"Michael Fassbender was our first choice" said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures.

"Michael is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

Ubisoft was in talks with Sony to develop a series of Assassin's Creed films, but now it seems the company will develop the film independently in order to maintain greater creative control.

Ubisoft is limiting its risk investment and saving on production costs by turning to its game studios to handle the visual effects work on the film, said Baronnet.

The studio’s last film, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, earned US$335 million (AU$328 million) worldwide.