After nearly a decade of whispers and negotiations, the long-gestating collaboration between Ubisoft and Netflix is finally taking concrete shape. What started as talks back in 2016 is now materializing into a multi-faceted adaptation for the streaming giant, promising to bring the eternal conflict between Assassins and Templars to life in a brand new way. The project, officially announced in 2020, encompasses a live-action series, an animated show, and an anime series, creating a whole new universe for fans to sink their teeth into. The recent casting of British-Australian actor Toby Wallace as the first confirmed regular cast member, with Roberto Patino and David Wiener steering the ship as creators and showrunners, has sent excitement levels through the roof. But the real juicy gossip, the kind that gets fans theorizing late into the night, is about where and when this story will unfold. Recent rumors are pointing the Animus towards a period the games have only ever grazed—Ancient Rome.
According to whispers from an anonymous source cited by Nexus Point News, Netflix's flagship live-action Assassin's Creed series is set to plunge viewers straight into the heart of the Roman Empire. The rumored timeline places the action specifically around 54 C.E., a fascinating and turbulent era. This setting would bring iconic, and notoriously complex, historical figures into the Assassin's Creed fold. The rumor suggests the series will feature the infamous Roman Emperor Nero and his influential tutor, Seneca the Younger. Now, that's a pairing ripe for the series' classic blend of political intrigue and philosophical conflict between order and chaos. For fans, this is huge news. While the games have taken us to Renaissance Italy, Victorian London, and Ancient Egypt, the glory days of Ancient Rome have remained curiously untouched as a primary setting. The closest we got was Aya's brief, but pivotal, trip to Rome in 44 B.C.E. to deal with Julius Caesar at the climax of Assassin's Creed Origins—roughly a century before this new series' supposed date. This rumor, if true, means we're finally getting the full Roman experience the franchise has been hinting at for years.
Ubisoft and Netflix have been playing their cards very close to the chest, offering only tantalizing crumbs of official information. In the press release announcing Toby Wallace's casting, producer Brittany Spurlin teased that the show would follow characters across "pivotal historical events." Well, if the rumor mill is correct, they've chosen a doozy. The period surrounding Nero's death in 68 C.E. was absolute chaos. Nero was the last emperor of the powerful Julio-Claudian dynasty, and his demise didn't just mean a change in leadership; it sparked a massive power vacuum and a brutal, year-long civil war famously known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Imagine the narrative potential: shadowy Assassin operatives maneuvering through palace coups, street riots, and military betrayals, all while the very concept of the Roman Empire hangs in the balance. It's the perfect sandbox for the series' themes. This setting isn't just about gladiators and togas; it's a deep dive into a society at a breaking point, which is exactly where the Hidden Ones (the early Assassins) would be most active.
But the potential here goes beyond just a new historical playground. This setting offers a golden opportunity for some seriously satisfying narrative connective tissue. Remember Aya? After the events in Egypt with Bayek, she didn't just fade away. She chose to stay in Rome, adopting the name Amunet, with a mission: to build and strengthen the fledgling Brotherhood right in the heart of the Empire. The end of Origins planted that seed, and fans have been wondering about that legacy ever since. A series set in Rome in 54 C.E. could be the perfect vehicle to show us the fruits of Amunet's labor. We could witness the Hidden Ones she established navigating the deadly politics of Nero's court, showing how the Creed took root and survived in one of history's most formidable empires. It's the kind of deep-cut lore fulfillment that makes long-time fans go, "Oh, they get it."
Let's break down what makes this rumor so compelling and what it could mean for the series:
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Fresh Historical Ground: While Assassin's Creed Brotherhood gave us Renaissance Rome, Ancient Rome is a completely different beast—earlier, rawer, and at the peak of its imperial power.
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Character Dynamics: Nero and Seneca present a master-student relationship fraught with tension, perfectly mirroring the Assassin-Templar ideological war. Nero's descent into tyranny and Seneca's philosophical struggles are prime material for adaptation.
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Visual Spectacle: From the marble halls of the Palatine Hill to the crowded, winding streets of the Suburra and the grandeur of the Colosseum (under construction during this period!), the visual palette would be stunning.
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Lore Integration: This setting allows the series to stand on its own for new viewers while offering rich, rewarding connections to the established game lore for dedicated fans.
Of course, it's all still rumor for now. Netflix and Ubisoft have yet to confirm a single detail about the period or the historical figures involved. But the pieces fit together almost too perfectly. The era is packed with drama, the location is iconic yet unexplored in-depth by the franchise, and it neatly ties back to a beloved character's unfinished story. As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, the prospect of finally seeing the hidden war within the Roman Empire is an incredibly exciting one. The wait has been long, but if these rumors are true, it seems the Animus is dialed into one of the most thrilling destinations yet. The stage is set for a saga of empire, intrigue, and the birth of a creed in the shadow of the Roman eagle.