Derek Kolstad explains how his new Netflix video game adaptation, Splinter Cell: Deathwatchsecretly remakes Clint Eastwood’s 33-year-old Western masterpiece. The Netflix animated series stars Liev Schreiber as Sam Fisher, the protagonist of the game franchise, who trains a new operative while getting pulled out of retirement for one more case. The show premieres all episodes on Tuesday, October 14.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Joe Deckelmeier, Kolstad, who created Splinter Cell: Deathwatchexplained how the show drew inspiration from a variety of films, including the Eastwood-led western Unforgiven. He explained the connection alongside how Sam’s character was inspired by older, jaded heroes, revealing how his personality will mesh with the story being told. Check out what Kolstad said below:
ScreenRant: Now, you’ve said that Deathwatch is your Unforgiven. What is it about Sam at this stage in life that made you want to tell his story through this lens?
Derek Kolstad: Well, when they came to me with the idea of doing this as an animated series, I did the deep dive into the mythology. I just realized I want to do Old Man Logan. I love a lot of the actors from the Golden Age, who did some really interesting movies later in life, like Spencer Tracy in Bad Day at Black Rock. And then we have Clint Eastwood with Unforgiven, and then we have Point Blank with Lee Marvin. I like these characters. But the cool thing about Sam is that I think he’s surprised he survived his life. He’s not an alcoholic rambling about his farm in the middle of nowhere. He’s just living his life, arguably in peace, because he was the point of the spear. When he’s brought back into life through what you’d call a half coincidence — it’s not really — he just accepts it. I like that he doesn’t fight against it. He doesn’t fully embrace it. He’s like, “Well, that’s the chapter we’re doing.” I come from a farming family from Wisconsin, and my uncle’s in his late 70s still doing it. You look at him and you’re like, “It’s the same kind of character of going, ‘Yeah, I farmed differently 50 years ago, but I farmed.’” I think that’s the way I looked at Sam and why I love the character.
What Splinter Cell: Deathwatch’s Unforgiven Inspiration Means For The Show
Unforgiven follows the story of two gunfighters, Eastwood’s William Munny and Richard Harris’ English Bob, whose respective groups are hunting for cowboys that disfigured a prostitute, seeking the reward money. The film holds critical acclaim, and in 2004 was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Based on Kolstad’s statement, it sounds like Splinter Cell: Deathwatch will be pulling some inspiration from the West, albeit as one of many sources. However, the storyline and the characters, such as the gunslinger played by Eastwood, may serve as important groundwork for how the series plays out. Just how similar both plots will be, however, remains unknown.
But, since the movie is serving as a core inspiration for the video game adaptation, it wouldn’t be surprising if familiar ideas or homages to the western showed up in its episodes. Even though the Splinter Cell video game series leans more espionage, both genres are associated with action, opening the door for some potentially obvious shared ideas between stories.
Our Take On Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Being Inspired By Unforgiven
Even though Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is in a completely different genre than Unforgiventhe video game adaptation’s secret inspiration is a strong reflection of the type of story it’s going to tell. There will be plenty of darkness throughout the spy thriller, alongside ideas that may feel reminiscent of Golden Age actors and films. It’ll help the adaptation stand out.
Nor the release date for Splinter Cell: Deathwatch fast approaches, so too does more information about how it will pull from Unforgiven and other movies of its time. The show already has some interesting ideas that it will be playing with regarding the video game franchise; new elements help it stand out as a new chapter of Sam’s story begins.
- Release Date
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October 14, 2025
- NETWORKS
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Netflix
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Liev Schreiber
Sam Fisher (voice)
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Kirby Howell-Baptiste
Zinnia McKenna
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