Netflix’s long-awaited adaptation of the beloved video game series Splinter Cell has now debuted footage for fans – and the reception has been glowing. Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is an animated adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, and has been developed by Ubisoft Film & Television and animation studios Sun Creature and Fost. The series is directed by Guillaume Dousse and Félicien Colmet-Daage, and finds John Wick and Nobody’s Derek Kolstad on board as head writer.
After being announced all the way back in 2020, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is now expected to land on the streamer this year, with Ubisoft execs recently showing several clips to eager fans at Annecy Animation Festival, who reportedly went “wild” over what they saw. As per a report by Deadline, the clips featured the series’ protagonist Sam Fisher, voiced by Ray Donovon , as he throws himself into epic fight scenes and car chases.
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The series is now climbing the charts on the streamer as reviews declare it an absolute must-see.
As well as revealing new footage from the series, the creatives behind Splinter Cell: Deathwatch revealed some of the influences on the show, which include the seminal works of Heat director Michael Mann, Japanese director and animator Satoshi Kon, the anime masterpiece Ghost in the Shell and its divisive live-action adaptation, and topical issues like war and the climate crisis. As per a report by Deadline, director Guillaume Dousse explained, “We took huge inspiration from live action. There is this element of melancholy to the mise en scène. We wanted it to be full of contrasts.”
Netflix’s Sam Fisher Will Take Inspiration From Tom Cruise
The report also revealed that Dousse will incorporate “lengthier, fixed shots, a rarity for animation,” citing another unexpected source of inspiration: director Steve McQueen’s critically acclaimed 2008 historical drama Hunger, which features an intense 17-minute unbroken shot, or “oner.”
But that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten the need for action, with Liev Shriber’s Sam Fisher being inspired by one of the greatest action heroes to ever live: Tom Cruise. “It was interesting to have this ageing character, not totally like the Tom Cruise version but more realistic, and more weathered by life,” producer Hugo Revon said of the character’s adaptation. Schreiber, who recently starred as part of the ensemble cast of Netflix’s hit mystery drama series The Perfect Couple, takes over as the voice of Fisher from character actor icon Michael Ironside. Revon continued, saying Schreiber was “important for the project” due to his broader appeal. “His voice comes to life,” he added. “It is so natural.”
As for the series itself, Ubisoft development manager Carl Tamakloe described Splinter Cell: Deathwatch as a “roadtrip around Europe,” before Ubisoft development manager Carl Tamakloe revealed how the series will factor in the changing world of war in 2025. “We were interested in hybrid warfare,” said Tamakloe, who also revealed that Deathwatch will be set during the fictional Cop 31 climate conference. “Fake news can destabilize a state. We wanted to be rooted in the idea that in 2025 you don’t fight like you did in 2000.”
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell video game series first began back in 2002. Introducing players to Sam Fisher, the stealth game follows the black ops agent as he embarks on dangerous missions, often remaining in the shadows and using night vision and thermal vision goggles to get things done. The series has been met with critical acclaim and has spawned several novels over the years.
Source: Deadline