De Niro, Pesci for Uncharted movie?

By Fred Dutton Published 12 November, 2010

Bizarre casting rumours spill out.

Mark Wahlberg is gearing up to play Nathan Drake in the forthcoming Uncharted film, with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in supporting roles, according to rumours flying around Hollywood.

Showbiz 411 has reported that director David O Russell is looking to reunite Goodfellas duo Pesci and De Niro for his take on Naughty Dog's blockbusting PlayStation 3 adventure.

The website went on to discuss the direction the movie's plot might be going in too.

"Right now, the script is being composed from scratch. Word is the actual video game didn't have much there aside from a concept and a name."

Eh? Word is, Showbiz 411 needs to do a bit of research and actually pick up a copy of the game.

"Sources say the story will have something to do with antiquities dealers in New York," the reporter added.

Last we heard, Three Kings director Russell was off the project, but he's apparently sorted out his differences with Columbia Pictures and pre-production is now underway.

If Mark Wahlberg does snag the lead, we can think of one man who'll definitely be rather disappointed. Firefly's Nathan Fillion has had his eye on the role.

He recently tweeted, "If ever there was a Twitter campaign, let this be it. Rise, ye Browncoats. Rise, ye Castillions. RISE!"

Columbia Pictures hasn't ventured a release date for the movie tie-in yet, but in the meantime you can check out Russell's work in boxing drama The Fighter, starring Wahlberg and Christian Bale, due out later this year.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (34) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • VandelayIndustries #1 2 years ago

    So it is Marky Mark then...

  • Lunastra78 #2 2 years ago

    I think in all fairness, I should explain to you exactly what it is that I do. For instance tomorrow morning I'll get up nice and early, take a walk down over to the bank and... walk in and see and, uh... if you don't have my money for me, I'll... crack your fuckin' head wide-open in front of everybody in the bank. And just about the time that I'm comin' out of jail, hopefully, you'll be coming out of your coma. And guess what? I'll split your fuckin' head open again. 'Cause I'm fuckin' stupid. I don't give a fuck about jail. That's my business. That's what I do.

  • HisDudness #3 2 years ago

    Good to see Pesci working again (if true). De Niro? Does the man realize you can say "no" to scripts?

  • thewool #4 2 years ago

    What, no Frank Vincent?

    "Now go home and get your fuckin shinebox..."

    Best line from any movie, ever.

  • NimbusTLD #5 2 years ago

    Another video game movie, another disappointment. Why even bother getting our hopes up anymore?

    Maybe it's merely payback for all the shitty video games based on movies...

  • coderkind #6 2 years ago

    Yeah, thought Pesci retired a few years ago from film?

  • tickleygonad #7 2 years ago

    WTF??!!

    Nathan Fillion IS Drake, fuck Marky Mark.... And the funky bunch!!!

  • GamesConnoisseur #8 2 years ago

    Mark?

    He doesn't really fit or come close to the image of Nathan Drake or the even the hint of the person?

    But he could do a few of the baddies types in both games!

  • Climhazzard #9 2 years ago

    Fillion is much more suited to the role than Wahlberg. Don't think it would work with anyone else.

  • CaptainQuint #10 2 years ago

    Fillion or nothing. That's just the way it has to be.

  • arcam #11 2 years ago

    Yeah, just like Brad Pitt will star in the Red Dead Redemption movie.

    Let me guess - none of these stars are actually interested and neither of these movies will ever get made, just like all the other movie/game non-starters...

  • Harmonica #12 2 years ago

    Fillion or fuck off.

  • Lee_Morris #13 2 years ago

    I'm officially over this shit. I love Uncharted because of how great the acting (for a game), gameplay and settings all come together to make me feel like I'm in a grand adventure. The story by itself is essentially throwaway.

  • Miths #14 2 years ago

    Mark Wahlberg as Nathan Drake?! I don't actually mind Wahlberg in straight up action movies, but he certainly doesn't seem like the best fit as a wise-cracking Drake.

    My vote also goes to Fillion - unless Nolan North can do the job himself, but I have no clue whether or not his talents go beyond voice acting.

  • NimbusTLD #15 2 years ago

    Oh yea, doesn't Marky Mark hate video games? More than being a hypocrite at least.
    Edited by NimbusTLD at 12/11/10 @ 20:04

  • man.the.king #16 2 years ago

    I was excited about the Uncharted movie until I read these lines:

    "Mark Wahlberg is gearing up to play Nathan Drake in the forthcoming Uncharted film "

    "Word is the actual video game didn't have much there aside from a concept and a name"

    "Sources say the story will have something to do with antiquities dealers in New York,"

    If true, I might even skip seeing the movie altogether, unless by some weird chance, it actually turns out to be good.
    Edited by man.the.king at 12/11/10 @ 21:36

  • GreyBeard #17 2 years ago

    I like Wahlberg, with good script and direction he can do great work (i.e. not M Night Shylamalamadingdong), but he's a terrible choice for Nathan Drake as depicted in the games.

    Fillion is a no-brainer, but I guess with Russell in the director's chair the tone of the movie could be significantly darker than the games so maybe that's why he's going for more of "bad boy" lead.

    Pesci and De Niro are always a good combo, but really you have to wonder how invested Bobby is in his acting career these days. Machete was a long way from Raging Bull...

    Mind you, Russell has quite the reputation for pushing his actors (the I Heart Huckabee's outtakes are legendary), so I doubt it'll be that easy a paycheck for him :D

  • IamTheElderScrolls #18 2 years ago

    Joe Pesci is a danger to children... or is it the other way around?

  • zubnut #19 2 years ago

    James woods for sully. definitely.
    But if it's marky mark for drake then it (he) will be shit. Can't act, sing, or dance, and yes I know the last two arent important.

  • javvyman #20 2 years ago

    Wahlberg is 3 months younger... don't think age is a factor. Ford was 39 when he did Raiders and 47 for last crusade.

  • mushroomyakuza #21 2 years ago

    This is so disappointing.

    Seriously they have the story already, but the script bears little to no resemblance? Then it's not Uncharted is it!?

    Mark Wahlberg as Drake? The man is a movie-sinker unless he's in a supporting role. And SO not right for Drake.

    Crushingly disappointed.

  • Kaminari #22 2 years ago

    Wahlberg? De Niro? Pesci?

    What's the title of the movie again? Ah, yeah...

    "Uncharted: Epic Fail"

  • GaryHoward #23 2 years ago

    As much as I want to see De Niro and Pesci in a film together again, it will NOT be this one.

  • man.the.king #24 2 years ago

    @zubnut

    "... yes I know the last two arent important. "

    Unless you are a Bollywood star :)

  • kinky_mong #25 2 years ago

    Mark Whalberg as Nathan Drake?! Could Nathan Drake talk to animals?

    "Say hi to your mother for me."

  • valli #26 2 years ago

    From the script, page 134, torture scene:

    While staring at tortured hero: "Look at me. Where's the statue? Ya heard what I said? Don't make me axe ya again. Don't make me axe ya again."

    Stabs tortured hero in the neck with an artefact repetitively: "Where's the fucking statue you mumbling fuck you???"

  • Kcat10 #27 2 years ago

    This role belongs to Nathan Fillion. Let's make sure we do our part to help him get cast as Nathan Drake! Want to help? Keep reading:

    We Browncoats & Castillions are obeying @NathanFillion's Mission Directive: Campaign for him to be Nathan Drake!

    Here is Nathan's tweet: "If ever there was a Twitter campaign, let this be it. Rise, ye Browncoats. Rise, ye Castillions. RISE! http://j.mp/aEGe79 "

    Let him see that we have RISEN!

    Please write your desires in on each of the sites gathered here for you. Let's do everything in our power to help Nathan Fillion become the A-list leading man movie star he deserves to be! We all want to make very sure he is spared any more pain in his career such as he, and we, suffered with the demise of Firefly and Serenity. Let's steadfastly support him with our collective might, mind and strength. Show our Captain how beloved he truly is. We are Browncoats and Castillions. We have the power to put our Big Damn Hero up where he belongs, and keep him there. Thank you, and God bless you all for everything you do to help him.

    For those who might like an example of what to say, here's the essence of what I'm posting in the comments section of each site:

    "We want Nathan Fillion to be cast as Nathan Drake!

    Yes! NATHAN FILLION is the BEST choice to play Nathan Drake! He's got action hero written all over him, with the biceps to prove it. He's extremely handsome, bright, clever, sexy, hot, young and devilishly funny. And he wants this role as much as we want it for him!

    It's his turn to be the next powerful leading man on the big screen. We Browncoats and Castillions are determined to get him up where he belongs, and keep him there. He has single-handedly transformed the term "geek" into "sexgod." He's an up-and-coming A-list movie star with muscle and heat and he's a-comin' to take over feature films! I feel it! Grab him while you can for the Uncharted franchise. Because he'll also make the best Indiana Jones when they re-boot those movies!!

    In his campaign to be Nathan Drake, we Browncoats and Castillions rise up and firmly support our Captain Nathan Fillion!"

    Please go to this link for all 170 sites, and thank you!:
    http://tinyurl.com/2dn2pqz

  • Miths #28 2 years ago

    @Astro-Creature "Fillion would have been great 10 years ago. Go to a convention and see him, now he's in his 40's. Time has not been kind."

    He might be a bit out of shape (like many of us :)), but I haven't really noticed him looking particularly old and "worn out" on Castle.
    And I believe spending six months being whipped into shape by a personal trainer and a chef is pretty standard fare for actors getting ready for the lead role in an action movie anyway?

  • actionfitz #29 2 years ago

    Not content with raping our collective eye sockets with Max Payne, Wahlberg staring as Nathan Drake...
    fucking fuck... fuuuuuuuuuu.... etc

    "Word is the actual video game didn't have much there aside from a concept and a name"
    /face-to-the-fucking-palm

    "Sources say the story will have something to do with antiquities dealers in New York"

    (can't even come up with something to adequately express my exasperation at that bit).

  • Cjail #30 2 years ago

    Uncharted characters are so great because of Nolan North, Richard McGonagle, Emily Rose, Claudia Black, Steve Valentine, James Sie, Graham McTavish, Simon Templeman, etc...thinking otherwise it is an insult to them and their work.

    Of course Uncharted the Movie is not about the characters but just about the money.



    Edited by Cjail at 15/11/10 @ 12:15

  • man.the.king #31 2 years ago

    @Miths

    "And I believe spending six months being whipped into shape by a personal trainer and a chef is pretty standard fare for actors getting ready for the lead role in an action movie anyway? "

    True. For Batman Begins, Christian Bale went from skeleton to bodybuilder.

  • TRUTH #32 2 years ago

    De Niro hasn't come in decent film for years!

  • JensonJet #33 2 years ago

    It's not bizzare at all that big name Hollywood stars may appear in an Unchartered movie. Actors will do ANYTHING if the money's right! Just because an actor has won accolades doesn't stop them from taking any old movie that comes along. Good actors always end up making poor movies because ultimately barely any of them have any sense of pride in their work.

  • xsesh #34 2 years ago

    Nathan Fillon is the perfect choice for Nathan Drake