The Weinstein Co. Nabs Michael Fassbender Starrer 'Macbeth'

Michael Fassbender (CAA, the U.K.'s Troika) will produce and star in a film adaptation of the Ubisoft video game Assassin's Creed.

The company takes U.S. and Canadian rights for the Shakespeare adaptation that also stars Marion Cotillard.

The Weinstein Co. has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights from StudioCanal for director Justin Kurzel’s big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave, Shame) and Marion Cotillard (The Immigrant, Rust and Bone) will star in the drama written by Jacob Koskoff and Todd Louiso (The Marc Pease Experience). Natalie Portman was originally onboard to star opposite Fassbender.

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The project is being produced by See-Saw Films’ Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, who previously teamed with The Weinstein Co. for The King’s Speech.

StudioCanal is financing and is handling international sales. Film4 developed and is partnering on the project.

“I’m delighted to team up with The Weinstein Co. again, who are the perfect home for domestic distribution of this high-profile film,” StudioCanal chairman and CEO Olivier Courson said.

Added Harvey Weinstein: “Adapting a Shakespeare work like Macbeth takes the ability to infuse timeless tales with originality, while at the same time preserving what makes it classic to begin with. We are excited to be working with See-Saw, the entire filmmaking team and StudioCanal along with Michael and Marion, who are some of the most daring, profound actors of the moment.”

The deal for Macbeth was negotiated by TWC’s David Glasser, Robert Walak and Michal Steinberg. StudioCanal’s Harold Van Lier repped the filmmakers.

E-mail: Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com

Twitter: @TatianaSiegel27