Fans have waited years, and while it may not be live-action, an adaptation of one of the most popular video game franchises of all time is finally here, courtesy of Netflix. From the creator of the John Wick franchise (are there any sweeter words in the English language) comes Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, a new animated series from Netflix and Ubisoft, with the streamer having now unleashed the action-packed first trailer.
Netflix’s animated adaptation of Splinter Cell was first announced all the way back in 2020 and finds Ray Donovon star Liev Schreiber voicing main character Sam Fisher. 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. The trailer, which you can check out below, teases all the shadowy espionage and intense action you could ever hope for, as Sam Fisher takes on a mission that he calls “personal.” Is there any other kind?
The Netflix series, meanwhile, has been described as a “roadtrip around Europe” by Ubisoft development manager Carl Tamakloe. The Ubisoft boss has also revealed how the series will reflect the changing world of war in 2025, saying, “We were interested in hybrid warfare,” before revealing that Splinter Cell: 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.”
‘Splinter Cell: Deathwatch’ Will Debut on Netflix in October
After waiting patiently for five years, it has now been revealed that Splinter Cell: Deathwatch will debut on Netflix very soon. On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, to be precise. Meaning that, finally, fans will get to see Sam Fisher emerge from the shadows in animated form rather than digital. While, to the disappointment of some, it’s not live-action (that may never happen, but Splinter Cell: Deathwatch being a success would certainly help), it’s great to see Fisher in action regardless.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch 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.
The animated series will take inspiration from some of the greats when bringing the video game to anime life. Director Guillaume Dousse previously revealed that the series turns to the likes of Heat director Michael Mann, Japanese director and animator Satoshi Kon, the anime masterpiece Ghost in the Shell, as well as the action hero prowess of Mission: Impossible star and Hollywood icon Tom Cruise. With such a glorious list of ingredients, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is sure to do the beloved franchise justice.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
