What choosing Nero’s Rome reveals about the Assassin’s Creed series

Nero’s Rome as a scene of eternal conflict

Unlike the franchise’s previous visits to Italy, which were set in the Renaissance era with Ezio Auditore, the Netflix series turns the clock back nearly 1,400 years. The story is set in AD 64, during the reign of Emperor Nero. Historically speaking, this is the year in which the catastrophic Great Roman Fire engulfed almost two-thirds of the city.

This very event, the cause of which has never been fully clarified, served as a trigger; for the wave of persecution of Christians. The years that followed were filled with political instability, conspiracies and failed attempts to assassinate the emperor, providing the perfect historical backdrop for the story of the secret societies that shape history from the shadows. Although there is still no official confirmation of what will be the central theme, this turbulent period offers a handful of material. The series will, according to everything, tell a completely original story with new characters, and will not be a direct adaptation of one of the existing video games.

Production in Italy under the direction of Johan Renck

In order to ensure authenticity, the filming was entirely located in Italy. The main production base is the legendary Cinecittà studios in Rome, which use and expand their već there is also a Rome set. Additional filming locations are located in the Lazio and Tuscany regions. Filming began in March and should last seven months, until October 2026, which suggests that we can expect the series on Netflix during 2027.

The creative team inspires confidence. The showrunners of the series are Roberto Patino, known for his work on Westworld and Sons of Anarchy, and David Wiener (Homecoming, Brave New World). The directorial baton is held by Johan Renck, whose work on the HBO miniseries ČErnobil received praise from critics and audiences.

An impressive cast for a new generation of Assassins

Netflix has assembled a large and diverse cast. The main roles, details of which are still under wraps, are played by Toby Wallace (Babyteeth), Lola Petticrew (Say Nothing), Zachary Hart (The Witcher: Blood Origin), Laura Marcus (The Jetty), Tanzyn Crawford and Nabhaan Rizwan.

They are joined by a number of well-known international names in supporting roles, including Noomi Rapace (Prometheus), Claes Bang (Dracula), Sean Harris (the villain from the films Mission Impossible), Ramzy Bedia and Italian actor Corrado Invernizzi, which further confirms the high ambitions of the project.

The fight for the destiny of humanity

The official synopsis confirms that the heart and soul; the story stays true to the franchise’s foundations: “The series is a high-octane thriller centered on a secret war between two shadowy factions – one that wants to determine the future of humanity through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will.”

Unofficial plot descriptions go one step further, stating that the story follows a new Assassin who gets involved in political intrigue at Nero’s court. His task is to expose the conspiracy that connects the emperor’s rise to power, the influence of his famous advisor Seneca the Younger and the secret order that extends from the imperial palaces to the city’s underground.