Netflix is making a Splinter Cell anime series from the writer of John Wick

Splinter Cell: Blacklist
(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Following on from the success of its Castlevania and The Witcher adaptations, Netflix is dipping its toes in the video game well once again, teaming up with Ubisoft for an anime series based on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, as reported by Variety.

Netflix's Splinter Cell series will be written and executive produced by Derek Kolstad, who is best known for writing all three of the John Wick films. 

Kolstad has some prior experience adapting video games, having written the screenplay for the announced Just Cause movie. Additionally, Kolstad has also contributed to the upcoming Falcon and Winter Solder series from Disney Plus.

While each party has declined to comment on the deal, Variety's sources have revealed that the series has received a two-season, 16-episode order from Netflix upfront, suggesting the service has an abundance of faith in the project.

In the shadows

The Splinter Cell franchise follows Sam Fisher, an ex-Navy SEAL who undertakes stealth-based missions for the NSA and who is rarely-seen without his night vision goggles.

At present, it's unknown whether Netflix's Splinter Cell series will feature hand-drawn animation (like the aforementioned Castlevania) or computer generated animation (such as Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045).

In the meantime, let us quietly hope that actor Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Starship Troopers) returns to lend his gravelly voice to Splinter Cell's lead character once again. 

Stephen Lambrechts
Senior Journalist, Phones and Entertainment

Stephen primarily covers phones and entertainment for TechRadar's Australian team, and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming in both print and online for over a decade. He's obsessed with smartphones, televisions, consoles and gaming PCs, and has a deep-seated desire to consume all forms of media at the highest quality possible. 

He's also likely to talk a person’s ear off at the mere mention of Android, cats, retro sneaker releases, travelling and physical media, such as vinyl and boutique Blu-ray releases. Right now, he's most excited about QD-OLED technology, The Batman and Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga.

Latest in Netflix
Susan holding her baby in Toxic Town.
Netflix's #3 show has a flawless 100% on Rotten Tomatoes – here are 3 more powerful dramas to watch after Toxic Town
Devil May Cry's Dante has his back to the camera, holding onto a large sword
Netflix's official Devil May Cry trailer features music from my favorite alternative rock band and it's taken me on a serious nostalgia trip
Joe Goldberg and Kate Lockwood sitting at a table and looking at the camera in You season 5.
Netflix releases a killer new trailer for You season 5 but my favorite character is missing from Joe's final chapter
Michelle and Kid Cosmo watching a video projected onto a screen in Netflix's The Electric State movie
'We could not achieve that with puppetry or animatronics': Joe and Anthony Russo didn't want to build real-life robots for The Electric State for two big reasons
Peter looks to the side with the city skyline behind him in The Night Agent season 2
3 Netflix shows I stopped watching and wouldn't go back to
Owen Hendricks looks at something off camera in The Recruit season 2.
Netflix cancels spy thriller The Recruit, and I know which show to blame
Latest in News
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could be in line for a Galaxy S25 Ultra-level camera upgrade
Data leak
Hacked Tata Technologies data leaked by ransomware gang
A close up of Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy Norris in Paramount Plus' Landman TV series
The Taylor Sheridan supremacy lives on at Paramount+ as Landman gets renewed for season 2
Ryzen 9000 promotional material
AMD's most powerful processor ever actually runs better on Windows 10 than Windows 11
The logo and key art for Inzoi.
The newly revealed Inzoi system requirements are enough to make me go back to The Sims 4
A white Samsung logo on a black sign, people with suitcases walking past
Samsung tipped to unveil first-ever bone-conduction headphones at Galaxy Z Fold 7 event