After the previous teaser for the next Netflix video game anime adaptation made the rounds, Netflix has returned to give a full-length trailer for Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, and it’s action-oriented.
Previously, Netflix had sprung a teaser trailer on unsuspecting fans, revealing the release date of October 14 for the new anime Netflix Original, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch. Netflix is no stranger to adapting big video game licenses, as they’ve hit Devil May Cry, Castlevania, and Assassin’s Creed has been announced as early production, so it’s a natural fit for Splinter Cell to join its ranks as yet another legendary franchise reimagined for the small screen. The full-length trailer released today can be seen below courtesy of Netflix.
Fans of the game series may have noticed that the trailer for Splinter Cell: Deathwatch doesn’t exactly capture the franchise’s signature espionage feel. Instead, Sam Fisher is presented as an unstoppable close-quarters force, dismantling guards with ease and engaging in fist fights more often than stealth. For the adaptation, Netflix tapped Derek Kolstad—the writer behind the John Wick films—which may explain the shift toward a more action-driven portrayal of Fisher.
The adaptation brings more than just a change in style. For the first time, Sam Fisher is voiced by Hollywood actor Liev Schreiber, replacing Michael Ironside, who voiced the character in seven of the previous eight titles. The story is also set to pick up after the events of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.
One key scene in the trailer shows the funeral of Douglas Shetland, Fisher’s former ally whom he killed in Chaos Theory. It remains unclear whether this version of Sam was responsible for Shetland’s death, or what his current mission entails. As with every entry in the series, though, Fisher makes it clear that this time, it’s personal.
Aside from Schreiber, the rest of Deathwatch’s cast is star-studded, featuring Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Sandman) as Zinnia McKenna, Janet Varney (The Legend of Korra) as Anna Grimsdottir, and Joel Oulette (Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series) as Thunder.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is produced by Ubisoft, in partnership with the animation studios Sun Creature and Fost, and it will air exclusively on Netflix on October 14. Fans looking for more inside scoops from Netflix can visit their Tudum site.
