Derek Kolstad, the acclaimed showrunner behind *John Wick* and the upcoming Netflix animated series *Splinter Cell: Deathwatch*, recently offered a provocative insight into his adaptation philosophy. He firmly believes that to truly succeed, one must "rip the spine out of the source material."
In an interview, Kolstad elaborated on this approach for *Deathwatch*, emphasizing the need to honor the essence of the *Splinter Cell* franchise without being rigidly bound by its existing narrative. "You have to extract the brain and the heart, captivate the soul, and then diligently reconstruct it into a functional and compelling new work," he explained, highlighting a creative process that prioritizes the spirit over literal adherence.
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*Deathwatch* is set to unfold decades after the original games’ storylines. Kolstad expressed hope that the series might be considered official canon, but admitted to some creative limitations imposed by Ubisoft. He noted that there were specific elements the game developer requested they avoid, hinting at "other plans" Ubisoft might have for the franchise’s future. These unrevealed plans could potentially involve the highly anticipated *Splinter Cell* remake.
A notable decision discussed by Kolstad was the choice not to bring back Michael Ironside, the iconic voice of Sam Fisher from the games. While acknowledging his admiration for Ironside’s legendary performance, Kolstad explained that the team was seeking "a new sound" for the animated adaptation. After considering several interested actors, Liev Schreiber was ultimately cast in the role.
Kolstad’s decision was influenced by Schreiber’s portrayal of John Clark in the 2002 film *The Sum of All Fears*, itself an adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel. Kolstad found Schreiber’s performance as Clark "perfect" and saw a natural fit for Sam Fisher, given that both characters exist within the same Clancy universe and share a common creator. This connection reinforced his belief that Schreiber was the ideal choice to voice the new iteration of Sam Fisher.
Fans can look forward to the premiere of *Splinter Cell: Deathwatch* on Netflix this October 14.
Meanwhile, in the gaming world, a *Splinter Cell* remake is currently in development, though updates have been scarce since its 2022 announcement. Earlier this year, Ubisoft did offer a nod to the franchise’s past by adding Steam achievements to *Splinter Cell: Blacklist*, originally released in 2013.
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