EXCLUSIVE: Ariane Labed, the Greek-born French actress who made such a stirring impression in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Cannes fave The Lobster, has boarded the cast of Assassin’s Creed. The Justin Kurzel-directed New Regency live-action adaptation of the Ubisoft video game stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. This would be the highest-profile role yet for the 31-year-old actress who already has a clutch of awards under her belt for her fearless work. She won the Best Actress award in Venice in 2010 for her performance in Athina Rachel Tsangari’s Attenberg. She also won the Locarno Best Actress award last year for her work in Lucia Borleteau’s Fidelio, Alice’s Odyssey.

New Regency and Ubisoft have high hopes for the project. The Assassin’s Creed video game has sold over 91 million units. Production is set to begin in early fall for a December 21, 2016 release through Fox, and the film is being co-financed by RatPac and Alpha Pictures. Frank Marshall, Arnon Milchan, Jean-Julien Baronnet, Conor McCaughan, Fassbender and Pat Crowley are producing. Bill Collage, Adam Cooper and Michael Lesslie scripted.

Labed will play the role that Alicia Vikander was circling at one point. The actress could not get the dates to fit with her other commitments — namely her role in the upcoming Jason Bourne installment for Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass. The Assasssin’s Creed producers moved quickly to lock down one of Europe’s most exciting and versatile actresses in Labed.

Labed is repped by Independent Talent Group in the UK and Agence Adequat in France.