'Assassin's Creed' trailer: What will historical setting lend to the movie?

'Creed' stars Michael Fassbender as a man who goes back in time to the period of the Spanish Inquisition. Director Justin Kurzel says the historical aspect of the narrative intrigued him.

A new trailer has been released for the upcoming "Assassin’s Creed" movie, which is based on the video game series of the same name and takes place during the Spanish Inquisition.

The film stars Michael Fassbender as a man who is sent back in time to experience the memories of his ancestor, who was alive in the 1400s. 

"Creed" co-stars Marion Cotillard, Brendan Gleeson, and Jeremy Irons. The movie, which will be released this December, reunites Mr. Fassbender and Ms. Cotillard with Justin Kurzel, their director for the 2015 movie "Macbeth." 

Unlike, for example, the upcoming summer movie "Warcraft," which is based on the roleplaying game "World of Warcraft" and is set in a fantasy land, the film "Creed" is based on a historical setting and Kurzel, who was not familiar with the video game, said that setting proved key for him.

"I spent most of my time with the story and the real history," he told the Los Angeles Times. "That was my main focus – not so much forensically going through every aspect of the game. It was: How do you make this into a piece of cinema?" 

The film's setting seems to be intriguing others as well. "For many fans who have fallen in love with the game over several installments, the beautifully rendered scenery – and uncannily similar roof jumps – could be a big draw," Vanity Fair writer Laura Bradley wrote of the movie, while Paul Tassi of Forbes wrote, "The trailer is simply gorgeous, and manages to capture the best aspects of ['Assassin's Creed']'s sprawling open worlds as well." 

It remains to be seen whether the setting of the movie will attract moviegoers who don't know the film's source material.

"Creed" is one of a few video game film adaptations being released this year, with the movie "Ratchet & Clank" having recently come to theaters but having struggled at the box office. An "Angry Birds" film being released this summer along with "Warcraft."