Ubisoft’s Doomed Splinter Cell Movie That Had Tom Hardy as Sam Fisher Was a Bigger Fumble Than Assassin’s Creed 2016

For years, fans of the beloved Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell video game franchise have clamored for a live-action adaptation that would bring the iconic stealth operative, Sam Fisher, to life.

Back in 2005 when Ubisoft started considering the movie fans got hyped. The real excitement came when they announced plans for the Splinter Cell movie with Tom Hardy cast as the lead. 

Hardy, known for his intense performances in films like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dark Knight Rises, and Venom seemed like the perfect choice to embody Fisher’s shadowy style. After high hopes and years of development, the producer Basil Iwanyk gave us a major update. Let’s dive into the update.

The Splinter Cell movie was officially announced in 2011 along with Ghost Recon and Assassin’s Creed. During an interview with Variety, Ubisoft Motion Pictures’ studio head Jean-Julien Baronnet said,

We want to keep ownership, retain control over the film content, and we’re open to work with studios on the development of our projects, and eventually collaborate on the pre-casting, pre-budget and script.

It initially sparked excitement, but the challenges began piling up almost immediately. The production encountered multiple issues, including frequent script rewrites, creative disagreements, and difficulties aligning the budget with the filmmakers’ ambitions. 

Over the years, several directors were attached to the project, including Doug Liman who is known for action movies like The Bourne Identity and The Edge of Tomorrow. Later more directors with less experience in action-heavy films were brought on. Each change brought its own complications, delaying the project further.

One of the most significant hurdles was Ubisoft’s insistence on retaining creative control. The company wanted to protect the integrity of the Splinter Cell brand, which often clashed with Hollywood’s approach to storytelling.

According to producer Basil Iwanyk, the production team struggled to create a script that balanced Ubisoft’s vision with the demands of a blockbuster film. Iwanyk shared with The Direct,

That movie would have been awesome… Just couldn’t get it right, script-wise, budget-wise. But it was going to be great. We had a million different versions of it, but it was going to be hardcore and awesome. That’s one of the ones that got away, which is really sad.

The failure of 2016’s Assassin’s Creed movie, also cast a long shadow over the Splinter Cell project. The underwhelming box office performance made studios wary of investing in another video game adaptation from Ubisoft. As enthusiasm dwindled and costs escalated, the Splinter Cell movie was finally canceled in November 2024.

Casting Tom Hardy as Sam Fisher was one of the most exciting aspects of the Splinter Cell movie. Hardy’s track record of playing intense, physically demanding roles made him a natural choice for the stealth operative. 

Hardy’s performances in action-packed films like Mad Max: Fury Road and Inception showcased his ability to handle complex action sequences with ease. Hardy’s dedication would have been a perfect match for the physical and mental demands of portraying Sam Fisher. 

In the Splinter Cell games, Fisher is a master of stealth, espionage, and close-quarters combat, skills that require not only physical prowess but also a commanding presence. Hardy’s ability to convey intensity through subtle expressions and body language as seen in Venom, would have captured the essence of Fisher’s character.

Beyond his acting ability, Hardy’s star power would have drawn attention to the Splinter Cell movie, elevating it beyond the realm of a typical video game adaptation.

His involvement indicated that Ubisoft aimed to create a high-quality film that stayed true to the source material. Unfortunately, despite Hardy’s ideal casting, the project’s logistical and creative challenges ultimately prevented fans from witnessing him play such an iconic character.