Kicking off with the declaration that “Mankind seems intent on destroying itself,” the final Assassin’s Creed trailer not only captures the true holiday spirit of 2016, but also reveals what its villains are really after.
Previous trailers have focused on the personal journey and experiences of Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender), the protagonist of the film. Through the improbable “genetic memory” technology of The Animus, Callum can access the adventures of his Assassin ancestor, Aguilar, during the Spanish Inquistion. We’ve seen a lot of cool rooftop leaping and descriptions of how “real” the past feels to him, but up until now, 20th Century Fox has kept the Templars’ motivations close to their chest.
In this latest trailer, though, we discover why the Templars are bothering to send Callum into the past in the first place. They are looking for an artifact called the Apple of Eden, which should allow them to control the masses. As Jeremy Irons’ character, Alan Rikkin, explains, “With it, any impulse towards independence or rebellion will be crushed.”
Honestly, getting to see Irons in full villainous monologue mode alone makes the trailer worth a watch, but it also gives the non-gamer audience a better sense of the movie’s overall plot. In addition, it contextualizes the “We fight” quotes from previous trailers, which had left me asking, “Fight what?”
Directed by Justin Kurzel, Assassin’s Creed also stars Marion Cotillard as Dr. Sophia Rikkin, Michael K. Williams as Moussa and Brendan Gleeson as Joseph. It arrives in theaters on December 21, 2016.
(via Nerdist, image via screencap)
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