The film isn’t yet attached to a studio, and Variety report that Ubisoft have held only “preliminary talks” with Warner Bros. and Paramount. Nonetheless, Hardy is set to alternately shout and gruffly whisper words written by Eric Warren Singer, best known for The International.
“Tom Hardy is currently one of the biggest talents in the film industry, and he has a phenomenal ability to take on complex and varied roles with his broad range of acting skills,” said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures, which is a thing now.
“His involvement in the ‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell’ movie is exciting news for movie and video game fans alike. Meanwhile, Eric Singer is one of the most talented writers of the moment, and… we’re confident he’ll bring a fresh approach and create a thrilling story… while still respecting all the codes and traditions of the franchise that are so important to fans.”
Conviction-era Splinter Cell is ripe for post-Bourne adaptation, and if anybody in Hollywood is willing to have their face mostly obscured by shadow for a film’s running time it’s the Man who was Bane.
Really though, the more I think about this, the better I feel. Hardy is one of contemporary American cinema’s greats – character actor first, leading man second, and possessed of both sensitivity and physical bulk. A Sam Fisher. What do you reckon?