'Assassin's Creed' movie news, spoilers: Michael Fassbender compares film to 'The Matrix'

Although the upcoming action/adventure film "Assassin's Creed" is based on the popular Ubisoft video game, its star, Michael Fassbender, thinks that it shares some similarities with the neo-noir science-fiction film "The Matrix" (1999). 

Speaking to Empire as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, Fassbender said, "I've always thought about 'The Matrix' when we've approached this."

The actor was referring to how, in the film adaptation of the video game, the descendants of the Assassins can use a machine called the Animus to access their "ancestral memory" and gain powers that they previously did not possess.

"This idea of DNA memory elevates it from a basic fantasy genre [piece], because you have something an audience can actually believe in," he said. "Then the journey becomes so much more elevated, because you're on board in a different way."

The film, in which Fassbender plays Callum Lynch and his ancestor Aguilar, a 15th century Spanish assassin, also stars Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Callum Turner, and Michael K. Williams.

"Assassin's Creed," which is set in the same universe as the Ubisoft video games, tells the story of modern-day Lynch, who explores the memories of Aguilar and gains the skills and knowledge of a Master Assassin. He also finds out that Aguilar is a member of a secret Assassins society.

But although some themes from the "Assassin's Creed" film adaptation may resemble those of "The Matrix," fans probably shouldn't expect the same level and number of computer-generated action sequences.

"What is really cool is that our action sequences are on real sets and real locations," Fassbender revealed. "There's very little green screen in this, which is highly unusual in these films," he said.

The film was written by Bill Collage, Adam Cooper, and Michael Lesslie, and helmed by Justin Kurzel.

"Assassin's Creed" lands in cinemas on Dec. 21.