Pazzi Conspiracy Assassination

Lore & Background

The films end with Giovanni warning that dark days are approaching Florence and that the next blow will strike the city, setting the stage for Assassin's Creed II.

Reader's Guide

The Lineage films follow Giovanni Auditore's investigation of the murder of Galeazzo Maria Sforza on Saint Stephen's Day in 1476, which leads him to uncover a larger Templar conspiracy involving Rodrigo Borgia and Pope Sixtus IV. The films end with Giovanni wounded and on the run, setting up the events of Assassin's Creed II.

Did You Know?

• The films were released on YouTube in three parts: the first on 26 October 2009, the next two on 12 November 2009, and the complete film on 14 November 2009.
• About 50% of the costumes were authentic period recreations leased from Italy, while the rest were designed by a third-party studio and assembled by Montreal costume specialists.
• The score for the films was composed by George S. Clinton, while the game Assassin's Creed II was scored by Jesper Kyd.
• The films were made by Ubisoft Montreal in collaboration with Hybride Technology, which had previously worked on films like 300, Sin City, and Avatar.

Historical Context and Narrative Premise

Set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy in 1476, this trilogy explores the shadowy underbelly of a period often celebrated for its artistic enlightenment. The story centers on Giovanni Auditore, an Assassin dedicated to preserving justice while shielding his family from political treachery. Unlike the later adventures of his son Ezio, these films focus on Giovanni's solitary investigation into a web of corruption that threatens Florence and Milan.

The narrative begins with Giovanni intercepting mercenaries led by Rodrigo Borgia, uncovering a plot to assassinate Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza. Despite his swift action, he arrives too late to save the Duke, discovering Venetian coins on the bodies that hint at a larger conspiracy. This prequel establishes the high stakes of the Assassin-Templar conflict, showing how the murder of a powerful ally weakens Lorenzo de' Medici's position and sets the stage for future turmoil in Florence.

The Escalating Conspiracy Across Italy

Giovanni's investigation propels him from Florence to Venice and eventually Rome, tracing the threads of a deadly plot orchestrated by Templar agents. In Venice, he intercepts a courier carrying an encrypted letter intended for a master in Rome, though the messenger commits suicide before revealing details. Back in Florence, despite efforts to decode the message with Father Antonio Maffei's help, Giovanni is forced to volunteer for a personal delivery mission to uncover the recipient.

Upon arriving in Rome and handing the letter to Rodrigo Borgia, who passes it to Pope Sixtus IV, the true nature of the conspiracy becomes clear: the Pope supports the Pazzi plot to crush Medici authority. The climax sees Giovanni ambushed at St. Peter's Basilica by Borgia, where he is wounded but manages to escape, realizing that Sforza's death was merely the opening move in a grand design to dominate Italy.

Production Innovation and Technical Synthesis

This project represented a groundbreaking collaboration between Ubisoft Montreal and Hybride Technology, marking Ubisoft's first attempt to step into the film industry. The production methodology uniquely blended live-action performance with video game assets; actors were filmed against green screens using techniques similar to those employed in major motion pictures like Avatar and Sin City. These performances were then integrated directly into environments extracted from the Assassin's Creed II game engine.

To ensure historical authenticity, approximately half of the costumes were genuine period recreations leased from Italy, while the remainder were custom-designed by specialists in Montreal. This seamless integration allowed the films to share a visual language with the game, ensuring that the narrative transitioned smoothly from the cinematic prelude to the interactive experience players would soon encounter.

Narrative Continuity and Legacy

Serving as a direct bridge between the fictional history of the Auditore family and the events of Assassin's Creed II, these short films were meticulously crafted to align with the game's storyline. Writer William Reymond worked closely with Corey May, the scriptwriter for the video game, to ensure narrative consistency regarding character motivations and plot points. The cast was selected from the same pool as the game, with actors undergoing motion capture, facial scanning, and voice recording sessions that directly informed their digital counterparts in the interactive title.

Released on YouTube in late 2009, the trilogy concluded with a message inviting players to take control of the story, effectively handing the narrative baton to Ezio Auditore. This strategic release not only promoted the upcoming game but also deepened the lore by revealing Giovanni's final warnings about the approaching darkness and his unwavering commitment to the Assassin creed.