Splinter Cell: Deathwatch creator Derek Kolstad has defined how the present will change the way in which an iconic, controversial character from the video games is seen. The Splinter Cell video games have an enormous historical past the Netflix animated collection can be pulling from, the place protagonist Sam Fisher can be pulled out of retirement for a brand new mission. His previous may also be essential.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Joe Deckelmeier, Kolstad defined how Splinter Cell: Deathwatch will provide a singular perspective on Douglas Shetland, a former good friend of Sam’s from the video games who betrayed him in 2005’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Principle. The creator explains how his perspective can be given a brand new lens, explaining how he and Sam aren’t actually that completely different:
ScreenRant: Now this collection revisits Chaos Principle, particularly Sam’s friendship and the tragic fallout with Douglas Shetland. What was it that you simply wished to discover with that loyalty and betrayal of their relationship?
Derek Kolstad: Douglas is attention-grabbing, as a result of he’s a type of characters once you’re launched, you’re like, “F–k that man.” You like to hate him. And you then become old, and also you form of understand he doesn’t suppose he’s the unhealthy man. He thinks he’s his personal hero. He’s not an anti-hero, he’s his personal hero. And what he would say is, “Yeah, look, the physique’s in my approach, however have a look at what I’m doing. Have a look at the world. Aren’t all of us safer now?” All that form of stuff. Sam has his personal beliefs, and I might argue that Sam, it’s simple to name him a cynic, however I don’t suppose he’s. I feel my two favourite strengths of any character is to have will and to have empathy. I feel that’s the factor about him is will, empathy and, very similar to Tom Reagan in Miller’s Crossing, that actually darkish water beneath the floor that you simply solely see come out a couple of times and also you’re like, “Oh, is that the true him? Is that the factor he’s maintaining at bay?” The fact is Douglas and Sam, they’re two sides, however they’re on the identical coin, and be it at any stage of their lives, they might have every gone the opposite approach. After they have these discussions, what you understand is that they’re really speaking to themselves, too.
Kolstad went on to discuss Diana, Douglas’ daughter, and the connection she’ll have with Sam after taking on Xanadu. Sam’s emotions are going to be toyed with because the collection progresses due to his previous, whereas Diana could have vital household dynamics to take care of all through the collection too. Try what Kolstad needed to say under:
ScreenRant: Now, one of the vital intriguing relationships I discovered on this collection was Sam and Diana, as a result of I really feel like there’s a lot that they should unpack with one another. Now, how did you need that relationship to redefine who Sam is?
Derek Kolstad: Remorse is that this actually advanced phrase the older you get. I feel when Sam is her, I at all times thought of that scene in Schindler’s Listing, the place it was Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, and Liam says to him, “The best power or energy is that of forgiveness.” It’s this nice little scene, after which he’s in entrance of the mirror, he goes, “I forgive you, I forgive you.” After which he shoots the child. It’s extremely darkish, and also you form of see what Liam was making an attempt to do. In right here, with Sam and Diana, it’s the identical factor. It’s what he’s making an attempt to do. It’s what he’s making an attempt to say with out saying it. And it’s virtually imploring her to not get out from the shadow of her father, as a result of the shadow isn’t fairly what you suppose it’s, however in some ways it’s poisoning her personal properly, her personal soul. And but, I might additionally argue that once you watch this collection once more, you form of know that Sam believes that it’s a really uncommon factor for an individual to vary. If you’re a child and also you watch a film like Die Arduous, you’re like, “That is superior!” And you then watch it as an grownup, you’re like, “The rationale this film works and it’s superior is as a result of it’s a few man who nonetheless loves his ex-wife.” If he didn’t have that in there, it wouldn’t be as superior. However, you simply didn’t decide it up as a child. So to me, it’s the subtext of the sorrow at he is aware of how that is going to finish. As a result of he’s been right here earlier than, and arguably possibly as a younger man on the opposite facet of that gun.
ScreenRant: Let’s keep on monitor with these siblings right here for a second. As a result of Charlie and Diana’s sibling dynamic and their sophisticated relationship with their father, Douglas provides such a layer to this generational battle. How did you craft that household drama inside that spy thriller framework?
Derek Kolstad: I had smarter writers within the room than me. If you have a look at the very best TV reveals, let’s simply have a look at Succession for instance. Yeah, the dialogue’s nice, nevertheless it’s what is just not being stated that makes the dialect that’s being stated work. So, in a whole lot of these sequences, that took the best period of time. Writing motion sequences, man, it’s my old flame. And but it’s the form of factor you possibly can write fairly fast, after which you possibly can form of hone and shine like a diamond and switch it in, then do your individual factor. However getting these scenes proper, it took perpetually. However the best factor when having a author’s room like I did, is that you’ve got 4 or 5 completely different voices, completely different experiences, other ways of considering, and finally it’s whoever is the author. In that episode, I discovered from Malcolm Spellman on Falcon & Winter Soldier, “Look, I’m going to do a cross in your screenplay, however the credit score’s yours. My title’s already on the present.” That’s what I discovered from him. So, simply bringing that up on web page, and having all of the voices, and treating it virtually like we’re writing a play — to not be pretentious, however we’re all of the actors in stated play. After which attending to such a spot the place it sings, I actually like these characters as a result of they’re fallacious, however they’re proper. It’s why we maintain going again to the Thanoses, or we maintain going again to the Killmongers. They’re proper, they usually’re fallacious. And I feel that was the enjoyment within the siblings.
What Kolstad’s Statements Say About Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Douglas was the proprietor of Displace Worldwide, a army company that Sam runs into hassle with throughout Splinter Cell: Chaos Principle. This pits him towards his former brother-in-arms, who he pushes to his loss of life, not desirous to shoot him. Now, in Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, this previous is coming again to hang-out Sam, with Diana and her firm a core menace.
He’ll even be defending and coaching new operative Zinnia McKenna, who has invaluable data associated to the mission the protagonist is on. Primarily based on Kolstad’s assertion, it seems the occasions about to unfold will recontextualize Douglas’ actions whereas nonetheless staying true to the video games. It’s going to additionally assist bolster Diana’s story within the online game adaptation as her perspective turns into vital.
Our Take On Douglas’ Involvement In Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
With Douglas’ daughter being such a central a part of Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, it is not shocking the present will provide a unique perspective on what occurred between him and Sam. Since Splinter Cell‘s timeline from the video games can be adopted within the present, it is probably the occasions that unfold will really feel like an vital revisit of the principle character’s previous.
Since Douglas can be hanging over Splinter Cell: Deathwatch in numerous methods, seeing how the story toys with the thought of him and Sam being not so completely different ought to show compelling. This new storyline that unfolds will little doubt enter some acquainted territory for the franchise, whereas additionally bringing in concepts that make it really feel distinctive in its presentation.
- Launch Date
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October 14, 2025
- Community
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Netflix
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Liev Schreiber
Sam Fisher (voice)
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Kirby Howell-Baptiste
Zinnia McKenna