What’s The Real Name Of Michael Fassbender’s Assassin In The Killer?

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Killer!

The Killer is finally out, and while the film has received positive reviews, it has left many viewers wondering what the real name of Michael Fassbender’s titular assassin actually is. Although he is the character that audiences spend the most time with, the name of the killer is actually never revealed in the film. Luckily, there are some other places to look, with external material possibly giving an answer to the biggest question regarding Michael Fassbender’s role in David Fincher’s The Killer.

2023’s The Killer is the newest movie from director David Fincher, with him following up on massive hits like Fight Club, Zodiac, Gone Girl, and Mank. Compared to some of his previous works, The Killer is much smaller scale, with it being a focused story about an assassin who goes on a manhunt after a hit gone wrong. The Killer is quite a mysterious film that doesn’t answer every question it raises, with one of the most significant ones being the true name of Michael Fassbender’s assassin.

The Killer Movie & Comic Doesn’t Reveal The Assassin’s Name

Although it is constantly teased throughout the film, The Killer movie never reveals the name of the assassin. Michael Fassbender’s character is only referred to as “the killer” in the films marketing, and the assassin is alone for most of the movie, meaning other characters don’t have a chance to say his name. The titular assassin goes by a lot of aliases throughout The Killer, but by the end of the film, the audience still doesn’t truly know who he is.

David Fincher’s The Killer is actually based on a French comic series also titled The Killer, meaning that it’s possible that his name was revealed in there. The Killer movie is primarily based on the events of The Killer Volume 1, in which the character’s name is never revealed. Although the assassin is referred to as Christian in later volumes, it is still a mystery at the end of the first story, one that could be resolved in a potential sequel to David Fincher’s The Killer.

Why The Killer Only Uses Sitcom Characters As Fake Names

Although the killer’s true name is never revealed in the film, he does go by a lot of aliases, with him using the names of sitcom characters anytime he needs a fake name. Michael Fassbender’s character goes by Archibald Bunker, Oscar Madison, Sam Malone, and more famous sitcom characters, with this naming scheme surprisingly never getting him caught. The Killer obviously uses these fake names to remain untraceable, but it would seem like a better idea to use completely new names rather than these iconic ones.

The reason for the character’s use of these sitcom names is that The Killer paints the assassin as a character who thinks he’s much smarter than he actually is. Michael Fassbender’s character gives a long monologue explaining how great of a killer he is right before messing up a fairly easy job, with this pattern continuing throughout the film. Using these popular names is only another example of his egotism, adding to the dark humor of David Fincher’s The Killer.