Report - Sony Pictures close to signing Assassin's Creed deal with Ubisoft

Sony Pictures is "closing in on a deal to develop a film franchise" around Assassin's Creed, Hollywood trade paper Variety is reporting this afternoon.

Negotiations have entered final stages, following a bidding war for the film rights that's been going on for the past couple months between various studios, including Sony and Universal.

Through Ubisoft's Motion Pictures division, which it launched last year, the publisher will keep creative control of the movie, a "key" point while talking with Sony, according to Variety.

Sony Pictures has refused to comment, but Ubisoft's said it had "no specific news to share at this time."

The next big installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise, which first started in 2007, launches on November 18 with Revelations on PS3 and 360.