Derek Kolstad, known for his work on the successful John Wick franchise, has become the showrunner of Deathwatch, the animated series based on the popular Splinter Cell video game saga, which will be produced by Netflix. In a recent interview with IGN, Kolstad shared his vision for the series and his approach to the source material, emphasizing the importance of “pulling the thorn from the source material” to provide a fresh and exciting experience, without losing the essence of the Splinter Cell universe.
Splinter Hell to the core
Deathwatch is set decades after the events of the original games; however, Kolstad clarified that he is not sure if the series will be considered official canon within Ubisoft’s narrative. Despite this uncertainty, the creator hopes that the series will honor the legacy of the franchise. The timing of the series could be strategic, given that Ubisoft is developing a remake of Splinter Cell, although there have been no significant updates since its announcement in 2022.
One of the most controversial decisions in production has been the choice of Liev Schreiber to portray Sam Fisher, instead of the renowned Michael Ironside, who voiced the character in the games. Kolstad explained that, while he deeply appreciates Ironside’s performance, the team was looking for “a new sound” for the series. Schreiber, who had impressed Kolstad in his role as John Clark in The Sum of All Fears, was considered a perfect fit for the iconic agent of the covert operations division, thus sharing a connection with the Tom Clancy universe.
The Deathwatch series is set to premiere on Netflix on October 14 of this year, while Splinter Cell fans are still waiting for more news about the highly anticipated video game remake.
