Assassin's Creed (2016) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Spain, 1492, serves as the backdrop for an epic struggle between two powerful factions. The Knights of the Templar Order embark on a quest to locate the Apple of Eden, rumored to contain seeds that directly relate to the first sin. Their goal is to secure this mystical object to exert control over free will in a world rife with violence. However, the Brotherhood of Assassins rises up against them, determined to thwart the Templars’ sinister aspirations. Among them is Aguilar de Nerha, expertly portrayed by Michael Fassbender, who is given the mission to prevent the Templars from obtaining the Apple. As he prepares for battle, he recites the Assassin’s Creed:

> "We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins."

Fast forward to the 20th century, we meet a young Callum Lynch (played by Angus Brown), whose playful ambitions of biking across rooftops come crashing down as tragedy strikes. Upon returning home, he discovers that his mother, Mary (portrayed by Essie Davis), has been brutally murdered by his father, Joseph (played by Brendan Gleeson), who is dressed as an Assassin. Forced to flee, Cal escapes a violent confrontation as modern-day Templars pursue his father.

In present-day, Callum Lynch, now portrayed by Michael Fassbender, finds himself facing execution after being convicted of murder. As he is prepared for a lethal injection, surreal and mind-bending imagery envelops him, leading to an unexpected awakening. He discovers himself in a high-tech facility, under the supervision of Dr. Sophia Rikkin, played by Marion Cotillard, who informs him that he isn’t dead but part of a groundbreaking experiment. Cal escapes his surroundings and gazes out of a window, awestruck by his vast new reality, as Sophia reveals that he is integral to Abstergo Industries' goals.

Soon, Callum is introduced to a high-tech machine called the Animus, designed to unlock the memories of his ancestor, Aguilar. As he immerses himself in the past, Cal is transported to the chaotic days of the Spanish Inquisition, where Aguilar and his companion Maria (Ariane Labed) are on a mission to rescue Prince Ahmed of Granada, kidnapped by the Templars under the orders of Tomas de Torquemada (Javier Gutierrez). The tension escalates as Aguilar swiftly eliminates the Templar group leader, fighting his way to rescue the Sultan's son while a Templar named Ojeda (Hovik Keuchkerian) threatens his very existence.

Within the facility, Callum encounters other descendants of Assassins, including Moussa (played by Michael K. Williams), who utilizes voodoo tactics reminiscent of his ancestor's skill set. As the boundaries of reality blur, Callum is haunted by visions of Aguilar, battling within the Animus. Sophia reassures him that these hallucinations are a normal reaction, explaining that the device is designed to connect individuals with their ancestral legacy.

The story grows darker as Sophia and her father Alan Rikkin (played by Jeremy Irons), fervent supporters of the Templar agenda, claim they seek the Apple of Eden to eliminate violence. However, their ambition quickly comes into conflict with the project’s apparent failures, as they face the reality of losing control over it. As Callum wrestles with more disturbing visions, grappled with memories that lead to chaos, he discovers that the stakes are escalating.

Callum learns more about the plight of Aguilar, who must endure capture alongside Maria and their mentor Benedicto (Carlos Bardem). The Assassins face public execution, and when Benedicto is brutally killed, Aguilar and Maria miraculously escape by causing explosions and fleeing across rooftops from their Templar pursuers. Just as Aguilar performs a Leap of Faith, a critical malfunction jolts Callum out of his trance in the present.

Conflict reaches a climax as Cal confronts his estranged father, who, now portrayed by Brendan Gleeson, explains a shocking truth: Mary had sacrificed herself to protect them from Abstergo’s experiments. Fueled by this revelation, Callum once again dives into the Animus, witnessing the dramatic confrontations of Aguilar and Maria.

In a final confrontation, Aguilar manages to locate the Apple during a tense exchange between the Templars and the Sultan, leading to heart-wrenching sacrifices as loyalties are tested fiercely. As the Rikkins pursue the powerful artifact, they reveal their callous intentions, prioritizing the eradication of the Assassins over peace.

However, Callum has now fully embraced his role as an Assassin. United with Moussa and other allies, he leads a charge against the Templars, resulting in a relentless and bloody showdown. The quest for the Apple culminates in confrontation with the Rikkins, culminating in a fierce battle of ideals.

Though victorious in the moment, the future looms ominously, as Sophia seems poised to exact her revenge against Callum for her father's death, leaving a palpable tension in the air. The journey of the Assassins continues, intertwined with vengeance, love, and a fight for freedom against a backdrop of historical conflict and personal vendettas.

In the end, Cal joins a fierce rebellion with other descendants of the Assassins to fight back against the guards in the facility, aiming to retrieve the Apple of Eden and escape. After a brutal confrontation, only Cal, Lin, and Moussa survive, managing to grab the Apple from its hiding place in Christopher Columbus' vault. As they make their escape, they are pursued but ultimately succeed in their mission. Cal then confronts Alan Rikkin at a Templar sanctuary, where a tense showdown unfolds. Despite Sofia's initial disapproval—disgusted by her father's Templar ambitions—she doesn't intervene as Cal kills Rikkin. The team retrieves the Apple, and the story concludes with Cal and his allies vowing to protect its power from misuse.

A darker version of the ending shows the Assassins being overwhelmed during their escape, with Lin and Moussa killed and only Cal escaping, leaving a more bleak and tragic note. However, this harsher ending was ultimately rejected by test audiences who preferred a more hopeful conclusion, leading to the current ending where all three survive to continue fighting for their cause. This ending emphasizes unity and the ongoing struggle between the Assassins and Templars, leaving the story open for future possibilities.