Netflix’s live-action Assassin’s Creed series will take place over 1,400 years before the events of Assassin’s Creed 2 – the first (or chronologically, now technically second) time the series visited Italy.

Earlier today, Netflix and Ubisoft announced the upcoming Assassin’s Creed series had officially begun production in Italy. Not just that, the team also revealed it’ll be set in ancient Rome in 64 AD. Ubisoft’s own Italy based Assassin’s Creed 2, meanwhile, primarily takes place between 1476 to 1499.

Those history buffs among us will know 64 AD saw the reign of the rather tyrannical and debaucherous (at least, according to some) Emperor Nero. Notable events during this period include Nero’s supposed marriage to Pythagoras, a freedman, during the Saturnalia, and the Great Fire of Rome, which destroyed three quarters of the city.

While some historians have blamed Nero and his incompetence for this tragedy, the emperor himself was said to have blamed the Christian community within Rome, which resulted in their persecution. While neither Netflix or Ubisoft have yet said, I do wonder if this may be a focus of the Assassin’s Creed TV show’s plot. We shall see.

Pulling myself out of that ancient Rome rabbit hole, Netflix has also announced its full Assassin’s Creed cast. Joining the likes of Toby Wallace, Lola Petticrew, Noomi Rapace, Ramzy Bedia, Sean Harris and Corrado Invernizzi, are Louis McCartney, Mirren Mack, Youssef Kerkour, Claes Bang and Sandra Guldberg-Kampp.

Filming for the series is expected to run for seven months, wrapping in October. Netflix is said to be eyeing a 2027 release window.

The streaming service’s Assassin’s Creed adaptation has been a long time coming, and was first announced in 2020. The series is being helmed by Roberto Patino (DMZ, Westworld, Sons of Anarchy) and David Wiener (Halo, Homecoming, The Killing), who’ll serve as creators, showrunners, and executive producers on the show.

Meanwhile, on the video game side of things, Ubisoft finally revealed some artwork for its not-very-secret-but-still-kinda-secret Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake earlier this month.