CELL SPLINTER: Deathwatch Creator Derek Kolstad has explained how the show will Change the way an iconic, Controversial Character from the games is viewed. Break Splinter Games have a vast history the netflix animated series will be Pulling from, where protagonist Sam Fisher Be Pulled Out of retirement for a new mission. HIS PAST WILL ALSO BE CRUCICAL.
In an interview with Screen‘s Joe Decelmeier, Kolstad Explained How CELL SPLINTER: Deathwatch Will Offer A Unique Perspective On Douglas Shetland, A Form Friend of Sam’s from the Games Who Betrayed Him in 2005’s Splint Cell: Chaos Theory. The Creator Explains How His Perspective Will Be Gioven A New Lens, Explaining How and Sam Aren’t Really Different:
Screenrant: Now This Series Revisites Chaos Theory, especally Sam’s Friendship and the tragic fallen with Douglas Shetland. What was it that you want to explore with that Loyalty and Betrayal in Their Relationship?
Derek Kolstad: Douglas is Interesting, Because He’s One of Those Characters when You’re Introduced, You’re Like, “F-that Guy.” You love to hate Him. And that you get older, and you kind of realie he dosesn’t think he’s the bad guy. He Thinks he’s his own hero. He’s not an anti-hero, he’s his own hero. And what he was so is, “yeah, look, the body in my way, but look at what i’m doing. Look at the world. Aren’t we all safer now?” All that kind of stuff. Sam has HIS Own Beliefs, and I Waled Argue That Sam, It ‘Easy to Call Him a Cynic, but I don’t think he is. I think my two favorite strengths of any character is to have will and have empathy. I think of the thing About Him is Will, Empathy and, Much Like Tom Reagan in Miller’s Crossing, that Really Dark Water Beneath You Only See Come Out or Twice and You’re Like, “Oh, is that the Real Him?” The reality is Douglas and Sam, they’re two sides, but they’re on the Same coin, and be it at any stage in their lives, they could have each gone the other way. When they have those discussions, what do you realie is they actually talking to themelves, too.
Kolstad Went on to Speak About Diana, Douglas’ Daughter, and the Relationship She’ll Have With Sam After Taching Over Xanadu. Sam’s Feelings are going to be toyed with as the series progressses Because of his past, while diana have imported family dynamics to deal with throughout. Check Out What Kolstad Had to Say Below:
Screenant: Now, One of the Most intriguing Relationships I find in this series was sam and diana, Because of Feel Like there’s so need to unpack with other. Now, How did you want that it is related to redefine who sam is?
Derek Kolstad: regret is this really complex Word the Older you get. I think sam is sam is looking at her, i always thought about that scene in schindler’s list, where it was liam neeson and ralph Fiennes, and liam says to Him, “The Great Strength or Power is of the Forgiveveness.” It ‘This great Little Skene, and then he in front of the Mirror, he goes, “I forgive you, i forgive you.” And then he shoots the kid. IT’S INCREDIBLY Dark, and you kind of See What Liam was trying to do. In here, with Sam and Diana, it’s the Same Thing. IT”S What he’s trying to do. ITH’S WHAT”S TRYING TO SAY WITH SAYING IT. And it is almost implicating her not to get out from the shadow of her haer, Because the shadow isn’t quite what you want, but in many ways it is poisoning her good, Her Own Soul. And yet, i would also argue that you were you watch this series again, you kind of know that sam beluits that it is a very rare for a person to change. When you’re a kid and you watch a movie like die hard, you’re like, “This is awesome!” And then you watch it as an adult, you’re like, “The reason this movie works and it’s awesome is Becout a guy who still loves.” If he didn’t have that in there, it wouldn’t be as awesome. But, you just didn’t pic IP AS A KID. So to me, it is the subtext of the sorrow at he knows how this is going to end. Because he’s been here before, and arguably maybe as a Young on the other side of that gun.
Screenrant: Let’s stay on track with these siblings here for a second. Because Charlie and Diana’s Siblling Dynamic and their Complicated Relationship with Their Father, Douglas Adch a Layer to this Generational Conflict. How did you craft that family drama with that spy thriller framework?
Derek Kolstad: I HAD SMARTER Writers in the Room Than me. When you look at the best tv Shows, let’s just look at succession as an example. Yeah, The Dialogue’s Great, but it is what is swimming said that make the dialects of the good work. SO, IN A LOT OF THOSE SEQUENCES, that took the great amoust of time. Writing Action sequences, Man, IT’S my first love. And unity of the Kind of Thing You can write prety Quick, and then you can Kind of Hone and Shine Like a Diamond and Turn it in, then love your own. But getting those scens right, it took forever. But the greatest thing was having a worker’s room I did, is that you have four or five different Voices, Different Experiences, Different Ways of Thinking, and Ultimately It is the Writer. In that episode, I Learned from Malcon Spellman on Falcon & Winter Soldier, “Look, i’m Going to a pass on your screenplay, but the creed’s. That’s what i learned from Him. SO, JUST BRINGING THAT UP ON PAGE, AND HAVING ALL THE VOICES, AND TREATING IT ALPET LIKE WE’RE WRITING A PLAY – Not to be pretentious, but we’re all the actors in said play. And then getting to suc a place where it is singles, I really like those beCauses they’re work, but they’re right. IT’S WHY WE KEEP GOING BACK TO THE Thanoses, or we kep going back to the killmongers. They’re right, and they’re workg. And i think that was the joy in the siblings.
What Kolstad’s States Say About Splinter Cell: Deathwatch
Douglas was the owner of Displace International, A Military Corporation that Sam Runs Into Trouble With During Splint Cell: Chaos Theory. This pits Him against his former Brother-in-Arms, who he pushs to his death, swimming to shoot Him. Now, in CELL SPLINTER: Deathwatchthis past is coming back to haunt sam, with diana and her company a core threat.
He’ll Also Be Protecting and Training New Operative Zinnia McKenna, who has valuable information related to the mission the protagonist is on. Based on Kolstad’s Statement, IT Appears the Events About to Unfold Will Recontextualize Douglas’ Actions while Staying TRUE to the Games. It’ll Also Help Bolster Diana’s Story in the Video Game Adaptation As Perspective Becomes Important.
Our Take on Douglas’ Involvement in Splint Cell: Deathwatch
With Douglas’ Daughter Being Such a Central Part of CELL SPLINTER: Deathwatchit is not Surpring the show willerr a different perspective on what Happened Between Him and Sam. Sine Splinter‘s Timeline from the games will be followed in the show, it”s likelly the events that unfold will Feel like an important revisit of the Main Character’s past.
Sine Douglas Will Be Hanging Over CELL SPLINTER: Deathwatch in various ways, seeing how the story toys with the idea of Him and Sam Being not so different shouned prove Compelling. This new storyline that unfolds will no dubt enter some familiar territory for the franchise, while also bringing in ideas that make it feel unique in its presentation.
- 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
