Michael Fassbender Opens up About the One Film He Regrets From His Career
Michael Fassbender has built a reputation as an actor who goes all in. He is known for choosing roles that demand a lot, both emotionally and physically. From playing Magneto in the X-Men films to taking on intense real-life figures, he often looks for characters with depth and inner conflict. Directors trust him to keep things real, even when the story gets big or dramatic.
One of the best examples of this approach came with his role in Steve Jobs. Instead of trying to look exactly like the Apple founder, Fassbender focused on how the man behaved. He showed Jobs as calm and controlled in public, but tense and explosive behind closed doors. That choice helped the performance feel honest, and it earned him wide praise.
Still, not every project worked out as planned. In 2016, Fassbender starred in Assassin’s Creed, based on the hugely popular video game series. He was not just the lead actor but also a producer, which meant the film mattered a great deal to him. When it arrived in theaters, it struggled with critics and audiences and failed to become the franchise launch many expected.
In later interviews, Fassbender openly talked about what went wrong. He said the movie became too serious for its own good. He also pointed to the structure of the story, once saying it suffered from three beginnings, which slowed everything down. He felt the film should have gotten to the main action much faster and focused more on being fun.
That experience reflects a bigger problem many video game movies face. Filmmakers often try too hard to explain every detail of the world. In doing so, they can lose the energy and joy that made the games popular in the first place. Fassbender later suggested that a lighter tone might have helped, an idea that lines up with the recent success of more playful adaptations.
After Assassin’s Creed, Fassbender did not disappear. He returned to familiar territory with projects like X-Men and Alien, then took a short break from acting to focus on professional auto racing. When he came back, he picked strong roles that played to his strengths.
He has been getting a lot of attention again. He stars in the spy series The Agency alongside Richard Gere and Jeffrey Wright. He also appears in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Black Bag, which has drawn praise for its sharp tone and performances. Both projects mark a clear return to form.
Looking ahead, Fassbender has a busy slate. He will appear in the sci-fi film Hope, directed by Na Hong-jin and co-starring Alicia Vikander. He is also set to play Joe Kennedy Sr. in a Netflix drama called Kennedy, which will explore the early rise of the famous political family.
Do you think video game movies work better when they are dark and serious, or should they lean into a more fun and silly style instead? Share your thoughts in the comments.
