Netflix has selected Toby Wallace as the first star for its upcoming live-action Assassin’s Creed series. The Australian actor, known for roles in Euphoria and The Bikeriders, will play a co-lead in the highly anticipated adaptation of Ubisoft’s bestselling video game franchise. The series is scheduled to begin filming in 2026.
This casting announcement marks the most significant step forward for the project since it was first announced in 2020, moving the show from development into active production.
The Story and Setting
The series will be a high-octane thriller centered on the timeless secret war between two shadowy factions—the Assassins, who fight to preserve free will, and the Templars, who seek to control humanity’s future. The story will follow characters across various pivotal historical events as they battle to shape humanity’s destiny.
While the core conflict remains faithful to the games, the series will feature entirely new characters rather than adapting existing stories from the franchise. Production is expected to begin in 2026, with Italy serving as both a filming location and the setting for the series, though the specific time period remains undisclosed.
Showrunners Roberto Patino and David Wiener released a joint statement about their vision for the series. They described it as a human story “about people searching for purpose, struggling with questions of identity and destiny and faith. It is about power and violence and sex and greed and vengeance. But more than anything, this is a show about the value of human connection, across cultures, across time.”
About Toby Wallace
Toby Wallace is a 30-year-old Australian actor who has built a diverse resume across film and television. He won the 2020 AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor and the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor at the 2019 Venice Film Festival for his performance in Babyteeth.
His recent notable projects include a lead role in Danny Boyle’s FX limited series Pistol, where he portrayed Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. He also starred in the 2024 film Eden alongside Jude Law and recently wrapped shooting for the third season of HBO’s Euphoria, where he joins the cast as a new series regular. For Netflix audiences, he is recognizable from his breakout role as Campbell Eliot in the 2019 YA mystery drama The Society.
The Creative Team Behind the Series
The live-action adaptation is being helmed by showrunners Roberto Patino, whose credits include DMZ and Westworld, and David Wiener, known for his work on Halo and Homecoming. Both will serve as creators, showrunners, and executive producers.
They are joined by executive producers from Ubisoft Film & Television, including Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, Austin Dill, and Genevieve Jones, ensuring the series remains faithful to the spirit of the game franchise. Ubisoft’s involvement is particularly significant given the company’s direct stewardship of the Assassin’s Creed universe, which has sold more than 230 million units worldwide since the first game launched in 2007.
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Fan Reactions and Expectations
The official Assassin’s Creed social media account signaled the importance of the casting news by sharing the announcement with the two peering eyes emoji, a nod to the franchise’s iconic logo.
On social media, fans have expressed renewed excitement for the long-awaited project. One fan commented on the casting choice, writing, “Toby Wallace feels like the perfect blend of calm and dangerous. This is exactly what Assassin’s Creed needed.” Another noted, “Finally some movement. This cast announcement woke the fandom up.”
The announcement has also sparked speculation about the Italian setting, with many fans hoping for a narrative connection to the beloved Ezio Auditore trilogy, which was also set during the Italian Renaissance. However, with the confirmation of new characters, the series appears to be carving its own original path within the expansive Assassin’s Creed universe.
Netflix has had notable success with video game adaptations in the animated space, such as Arcane and Castlevania. The live-action Assassin’s Creed series represents one of the streamer’s most ambitious attempts to translate a major gaming franchise into a live-action format.
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