Ubisoft launches movie-making division
French publisher eyes up Hollywood.
Ubisoft is launching a new movie-making division to develop films and TV shows based on its franchises.
According to showbiz bible Variety, Ubisoft Motion Pictures will be headed by Jean-Julien Baronnet, former CEO of Luc Besson's EuropaCorp outfit.
There's no word on which of its property will be first into production, but a questionnaire distributed earlier this year surveyed users on whether they would be interested in seeing Ghost Recon or Assassin's Creed flicks at the cinema.
This isn't the first indication Ubisoft has given that it's interested in diversifying into film. It set up computer animation studio Ubisoft Digital Arts in 2007 to help create the 3D visuals for its Avatar game tie-in. Then in 2008 it bought Montreal-based visual effects specialists Hybride Technologies.
Ubisoft's last dalliance with Hollywood was 2010's Prince of Persia movie, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton.
