Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the film and television division of video game development company Ubisoft, have partnered with New Regency to develop an Assassin's Creed film based on the worldwide hit game franchise.

In a recent press release announcing the partnership between the two production companies it was revealed that the development of Assassin's Creed had begun immediately with the project being fast tracked for a possible 2012 release. Ubisoft will maintain control of key elements of the movie's creative direction.

Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class, Shame) is set to produce and star in the film, which centers on a bartender who is captured by a secret corporation and sent back in time to relive the memories of his ancestors - all of them assassins - and retrieve ancient artifacts.

It's now been revealed that Michael Lesslie, an English playwright who garnered wide praise for composing The National Theater's 'Prince of Denmark, has been hired to write the film's screenplay. Lesslie also wrote several short films including 2011's Skirt directed by Amanda Boyle. No choice has been made on a director as of yet, but the studio still hopes to have Assassin's Creed hit theaters later this year.