In major news for both the movie and video game worlds, it has been announced via press release that New Regency and Ubisoft are teaming up to develop the film version of the wildly successful 'Assassin's Creed' franchise we heard about a few months back. Michael Fassbender, who has been attached to the project since July, is still on board, but will it be in the lead role?

As of right now, plot details and most other specifics are still under wraps -- no director or screenwriter are attached -- but Ubisoft evidently plans on being a hands-on participant in the construction of the film, which is reportedly starring Fassbender as the infamous hooded killer. Said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures: "We want to be sure that we're not taking too much of a risk but that we're still very involved on the creative side."

The timing of this news is quite perfect, as Ubisoft prepares to unleash 'Assassin's Creed III' upon gamers on October 30. The 'Assassin's Creed' games have sold more than 38 million units worldwide. Their movie division is also working on film adaptations of 'Tom Clancy's Spinter Cell' and 'Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon'.

Fassbender and New Regency recently collaborated on Steve McQueen's '12 Years a Slave', and it's obvious the company wanted to work with the "so hot right now" actor again. The production company's CEO Brad Weston remarked:

We see this as our first big commercial action franchise property. Fassbender just did 12 Years A Slave with us, and he is as good an actor as there is right now. The storyline we are pursuing has a great narrative and because Ubisoft’s games are so character and story driven, Assassin’s Creed lends itself perfectly to our goal to re-brand Regency as a filmmaker driven company.

Both companies are looking to have all the necessary elements in place for 'Assassin's Creed' by summer of 2013, so one could assume that a 2014 release date is being eyed. (Though that is simply speculation at this juncture.)

If you're unfamiliar with the concept behind 'Assassin's Creed', the plot revolves around bartender Desmond Miles, who is abducted one day by an ancient order of Knights Templar-linked assassins, and subsequently sent back in time to gather historic artifacts that hold great significance for humanity's future.