Michael Fassbender is to star in a video game adaptation.

The actor will appear and co-produce Assassin's Creed, which is games company Ubisoft Entertainment's best-selling franchise.

It sees a man find out his ancestors were highly-trained killers after he is kidnapped and then transported back in time.

"Michael Fassbender was our first choice," Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures, told Variety.

"Michael is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

The Assassin's Creed games have sold over 30 million, with a new instalment of the franchise due out late this year. Some have been set during the Crusades and Renaissance, with the upcoming version taking place during the American Revolution.

Ubisoft was considering working on the film with Sony but has now decided not to share editorial control.

Details about the character Michael will play, who will direct and the release date haven't been released.