Tom Hardy has signed on to star in “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell,” Ubisoft’s film adaptation of its popular videogame franchise that Eric Warren Singer (“The International”) will write for the company.
Project is the second major movie based on one of its properties that Ubisoft is looking to get on the bigscreen after setting up “Assassin’s Creed” at New Regency and Fox, that Michael Fassbender will co-produce and headline.
“Splinter Cell” is not yet set up at a studio, although Ubisoft has had preliminary talks with Warner Bros. and Paramount.
Hardy will play Sam Fisher, a highly-trained special operative in a fictional black-ops operation called Echelon.
Thesp recently played Bane in WB’s “The Dark Knight Rises” and is shooting “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
Singer also penned Black List script “American Bullshit,” which David O. Russell will direct with Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner set to star.
“Tom Hardy is currently one of the biggest talents in the film industry, and he has a phenomenal ability to take on complex and varied roles with his broad range of acting skills,” said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures. “His involvement in the ‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell’ movie is exciting news for movie and video game fans alike. Meanwhile, Eric Singer is one of the most talented writers of the moment, and … we’re confident he’ll bring a fresh approach and create a thrilling story … while still respecting all the codes and traditions of the franchise that are so important to fans.”
Game has sold more than 23 million copies since its debut in 2002. Six games have been released so far with “Splinter Cell: Blacklist,” released next spring, developed by Ubisoft Toronto.
UMP, founded last year, also has a “Rabbids” TV series, based on the “Raving Rabbids” game set to bow on France Televisions and Nickelodeon.
Tom Hardy is the latest high-profile actor to take a starring role in a video game adaptation — the ‘Dark Knight Rises‘ star has just signed on to lead ‘Splinter Cell,’ based on the popular game franchise from Ubisoft.
On the heels of the announcement that Michael Fassbender will star in the film adaptation of Ubisoft’s ‘Assassin’s Creed’ video games series, Variety reports that Tom Hardy has signed to star in the company’s film version of their ‘Splinter Cell’ franchise. But before you get all judgy about Tom Hardy starring in a video game movie because when was the last time one of those was even good — know that the script is in good hands with Eric Warren Singer, the scribe behind ‘The International’ and the upcoming David O. Russell flick once known as ‘American Bulls—.’ The film is currently not set up at a studio but both Warner Bros. and Paramount are interested in picking up the film.
‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell,’ based on the works of author Tom Clancy, obviously, is a huge ongoing hit on the video game market with six games so far released and ‘Splinter Cell: Blacklist’ scheduled for release early next year.
Hardy will take the role of Sam Fisher, an incredibly skilled special operative and member of the fictional black-ops organization called Echelon. No other details are known at this time, but we assume that’s because this is a top secret mission, you know?