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Should Fans Be Worried About Netflix’s Splinter Cell? The Hidden Dangers in the New Trailer.
Sam Fisher is back. After a long time away from the spotlight, the famous secret agent from the Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell video games is returning. This time, he will appear in an animated show on Netflix. The show has a title, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, and a release date of October 14, 2025. A new trailer gives us a first look at the action. It also confirms that actor Liev Schreiber will be the voice of Sam Fisher.
For those who are new to this world, it is important to understand why this is a big event for many people. The Splinter Cell games changed how people thought about stealth video games. You play as Sam Fisher, an elite field agent for a secret part of the National Security Agency (NSA) called Third Echelon. Your job is to move like a ghost. You use shadows, high-tech gadgets, and silence to complete missions that the government must deny ever happened. The series is known for its realism and tense situations. It is less about big explosions and more about outsmarting your enemies.
The new animated series promises to continue this legacy. It seems to be for both old fans and people who have never heard of Sam Fisher before.
What the First Trailer Shows Us
The first official trailer for Splinter Cell: Deathwatch provides many details to consider. We see a Sam Fisher who looks older and more tired than in many of the games. This suggests the show takes place late in his career. He is brought in for one more mission. The trailer hints that this mission is not just a job; it is personal. When a mission is personal for a character like Sam Fisher, the danger and the emotional stakes become much higher. It means he might have to face his past or protect someone he cares about.
The look of the show is also important. The animation is fluid and dark, with a lot of shadows. This fits the mood of the Splinter Cell games perfectly. We see Fisher moving through vents and using his famous night-vision goggles, which have three green glowing lenses. He performs quick, silent takedowns on his enemies. These are the classic moves that fans love. The music in the trailer is tense and builds excitement. Everything we see suggests that the creators understand what makes Splinter Cell special.
A New Voice for a Legendary Character
The choice of Liev Schreiber to voice Sam Fisher is a significant decision. For years, the character was voiced by actor Michael Ironside. His deep, gravelly voice became iconic. Many fans cannot imagine anyone else playing the part.
However, Liev Schreiber is a very skilled actor known for playing tough, serious characters. You may know him from his role as Ray Donovan, a professional “fixer” who solves problems for powerful people. In that role, he showed he can be quiet, intimidating, and capable of sudden violence, but also show deep emotion. These are all qualities that define Sam Fisher. Giving Fisher a new voice can also signal that this is a fresh start for the character, a new chapter in his story. It will be interesting to see how Schreiber brings his own style to this well-known agent.
The Creative Mind Behind the Action
To understand the potential of this series, you should look at who is writing it. The project is led by Derek Kolstad, the writer behind the John Wick movie series. The John Wick films are famous for their amazing action sequences and detailed world-building. Kolstad knows how to create a main character who is the absolute best at what he does. He also knows how to build a hidden world of assassins with its own rules and codes.
This experience is a perfect match for Splinter Cell.
- Expert Action: The John Wick style of clear, precise, and creative action could translate very well to Sam Fisher’s stealth takedowns.
- World-Building: The secret world of spies and black-ops missions in Splinter Cell has a lot of room for expansion, something Kolstad is an expert at.
- Character Focus: Kolstad successfully made audiences care about John Wick, a man of few words. He can likely do the same for the quiet and professional Sam Fisher.
This connection to a successful and respected action franchise gives fans a strong reason to be optimistic.
Netflix’s History with Video Game Shows
Netflix has been turning video games into TV shows for several years now. The results have been mixed, which is why every new announcement is met with both excitement and caution. The journey started with Castlevania, an animated series that was a huge success with both critics and fans. It showed that a dark, mature story from a video game could work as a prestige television show.
More recently, shows like Arcane (based on League of Legends) set a new, incredibly high standard for animation and storytelling. On the other hand, some live-action adaptations have not been as successful. Netflix also recently released an animated series for Devil May Cry, another beloved game franchise.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch fits into this strategy. Netflix is taking a well-known property with a dedicated fanbase and giving it a high-quality animated treatment. Because Splinter Cell is so loved, the expectations are very high. The creators have the difficult job of pleasing longtime fans while also making the show accessible to newcomers. The success of past shows proves it can be done, but it is never guaranteed. We have to wait and see if the show lives up to the reputation of the games that inspired it.