Uncharted movie director: trust me

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 22 February, 2011

"It’s going to be real, it’s going to be raw."

Uncharted movie director David O. Russell has moved to reassure fans of the videogame concerned by the direction of his unfinished script, asking them to trust that he'll make an "amazing" film.

Russell, the man behind the Oscar-nominated The Fighter, plans to depict a Sopranos-like family with a sense of justice in the movie based on Naughty Dog's superlative PlayStation series.

"If we take that family dynamic that we have in The Fighter, and put that in terms of a grander stage, with a crime family that metes out justice in the world of art and antiquities," he said, "if you're the head of a museum, or head of state, you've got to deal with them, and they're badass.

"They're like the Sopranos in some ways, but they have great taste, and they have a sense of justice."

Many fans of the videogame have expressed concern at the direction of the movie, but in a new interview with SlashFilm.com, Russell asked gamers to trust in what he's doing.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm very respectful as far as the core content and sprit of the game, but beyond that it's my job as a filmmaker to make what I think is going to be an amazing movie," he said.

"People have to trust that and let that go, I think. There's not a bunch of movies you can point to that are made from games that are amazing movies, that stand up to time as a franchise or as [individual films].

"I personally think it's really cool when you see that someone like Darren Aronofsky is going to make an X-Men movie or to get someone such as myself to make this picture. You can be guaranteed that it's going to be real, it's going to be raw, it's going to be intense, it's going to be original, and it's going to be propulsive. And those are all the things that I want when I go to watch a movie like that."

Russell said he's met with Naughty Dog's Uncharted maker Amy Hennig, who he describes as "really cool".

"I started to brew together what I thought could be a really cool idea that I'd never seen in a film before...Really intense action and really intense family dynamics on a global stage.

"To grow a game into a movie is an interesting proposition because a game is a very different experience than a movie. You guys are playing the game, and it's about playing the game. It's not about a narrative embracing you emotionally. You know what I'm saying? So, I want to create a world that is worthy of a really great film that people want to watch and rewatch, so that's what I'm working on right now."

Russell is almost done with the script. The movie is without a release date.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (53) Latest comment 1 year ago

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

  • Oh-Bollox #1 1 year ago

    He actually is insane.

  • DUFFKING #2 1 year ago

    Why even call it Uncharted?

  • Erinan #3 1 year ago

    "If we take that family dynamic that we have in The Fighter [...] you've got to deal with them, and they're badass.

    "They're like the Sopranos in some ways, but they have great taste, and they have a sense of justice."

    What the hell is he rambling about?

  • Buztafen #4 1 year ago

    So he's comparing himself with Darren Aronofsky now. OK...

  • TheEarlOfZinger #5 1 year ago

    Straight to video. 'DVD' for you youngsters.

  • Fab4 #6 1 year ago

    He has a letter for a middle name...how the fuck can you trust him?

  • AcidSnake #7 1 year ago

    You guys are playing the game, and it's about playing the game. It's not about a narrative embracing you emotionally

    God no! I'd snap the game disc in two in disgust if it tries to have an emotional narrative...

  • Ninja_Tino #8 1 year ago

    I too agree that the Uncharted title isn't at all necessary. If this family aren't even descendants of Sir Francis Drake then it's made all the more pointless, and sounds like no real parallels between the game and film exist. On the other hand, I think the movie sounds fantastic, especially if De Niro and Pesci are confirmed. This family dynamic sounds like it'll be a lot of fun, a la Indy and his Dad. I think the big names involved are what will sell the movie to the wide audience, not the Uncharted franchise.

  • TedMoseby #9 1 year ago

    "There's not a bunch of movies you can point to that are made from games that are amazing movies"

    Probably true. And the reason why, is that directors such as yourself are completely ignoring what makes the game popular. For an Uncharted film, I want to see Nathan Drake getting into all sorts of scrapes and adventures, surviving by the skin of his teeth and his wits. I want him to have sidekicks such as Elena and Sully, and have him risk everything to save them.

    At no point do I want or need some kind of shoe-horned in Sopranos style family; which arguably you've concocted just so you can attach some big name actors to the movie for a bit of a cameo.

    Look at the game for inspiration, not "whatever film came out last that had a bit of buzz about it". You're not trying to remake The Fighter, you're trying to make Uncharted.

    Personally, I'd rather you NOT make a film of Uncharted at all if the alternative is the mess you're talking about delivering at present.

  • Mkwone #10 1 year ago

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOigEtwIaxE

  • chrisola #11 1 year ago

    another 'game related in title only' film

    Uncharted is basically the Antiques Roadshow with machine guns and mass murder of annonymous henchman in a buddy cop mis-matched partner style -- perfect for a film as it is.

  • CaptainQuint #12 1 year ago

    I'm all for the development of characters, but why not build on what has already been laid out by NG? Why throw all that out and invent your own, jarring nonsense?

  • randompanda #13 1 year ago

    You're all mental. They get a great director on board who just made the incredibly character-rich Fighter who starts comparing it to the drama of the Sopranos and you lot are complaining?

    We should consider ourselves lucky it's not Uwe Boll.

    Or maybe we should learn a lesson from all those "faithful" videogame movies that were so great? Oh right, there aren't any.

    Uncharted deserves a good director's take on the story, try being more open minded.

  • WJF #14 1 year ago

    I hate the fact that the first Game to Film conversion that actually has a solid story with great characters as a basis is being treated in the same way as a platform game with no story.

  • richarddavies #15 1 year ago

    Im confident it's going to be a good film, just not a good Uncharted film.

  • asphaltcowboy #16 1 year ago

    "I started to brew together what I thought could be a really cool idea that I'd never seen in a film before... Really intense action and really intense family dynamics on a global stage."

    Didn't he see Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? ;)

  • neems #17 1 year ago

    "If we take that family dynamic that we have in The Fighter, and put that in terms of a grander stage, with a crime family that metes out justice in the world of art and antiquities," he said, "if you're the head of a museum, or head of state, you've got to deal with them, and they're badass.

    "They're like the Sopranos in some ways, but they have great taste, and they have a sense of justice."


    O'Russell then added that Uncharted would be "not retarded" despite "sounding shit". If this was the plotline to the game, it would be terrible. As a film it sounds like utter nonsense.

  • Shikasama #18 1 year ago

    Is it just me, or is he calling everyone who doesn't like his idea an idiot for not liking his idea?

  • Murton #19 1 year ago

    "As far as I'm concerned, I'm very respectful as far as the core content and sprit of the game, but beyond that it's my job as a filmmaker to make what I think is going to be an amazing movie"

    And when did these two concepts become mutually exclusive? As far as I can tell you've pissed all over the core content and spirit of the game and written your own movie then stamped the word "Uncharted" on it. There's a reason fans are concerned and that's because a great new franchise is about to be infected by your shitty film.

    Honestly, as much stick as Uwe Boll gets at least he ensures some of the game content makes it into the film.

  • Antaios #20 1 year ago

    I've no idea what he's on about, but it doesn't sound anything like Uncharted at all. He hasn't played the games and I wish he'd just admit it.

    Also, I'd like to see him shut up about the project already. Make the film or don't, but quit enraging people with statements like these every other week.

  • Utopolitan #21 1 year ago

    The fact that he feels the need to point out that the movie is going to be a certain way just goes to prove that he doesn't have a clue about what he's doing.

  • bodypopper #22 1 year ago

    'Unfounded' more like.
    Change the title and the character names Mr Russell and I'll be more excited. He is a decent director to be fair.

  • Golgo #23 1 year ago

    "a crime family that metes out justice in the world of art and antiquities."

    FFS. Sounds like something Viz would do.

  • Atropos #24 1 year ago

    I agree with Ninja_Tino; this could be a really cool film. But I also have to second the question of WHY, for all that's holy, would you call it Uncharted? I mean, you pay money to get the name, in order to get a 'built-in' audience. Then you make a movie that'll alienate that audience. Why not just call it "Terra Incognito" and keep your money?

  • ZizouFC #25 1 year ago

    I know I'll still get excited when I see the trailer at the movies, but this guy is talking utter dog shit.

  • TonyHarrison #26 1 year ago

    Has anyone been watching 'Episodes' on BBC2 lately? Yeah....

  • IronGiant #27 1 year ago

    He's talking tripe, last thing this movie needs is a ridiculous family. Nathan Fillion should play Drake as many have said already, it's an action adventure game/movie that does not need a convoluted back story. Part of the fun with Uncharted is that you dont know/don't care about Drake's past life you just find him in the middle of his latest adventure. Also it should be a fun movie, I'm not sure that 'intense' or 'raw' is exactly what this needs.

  • kalinichenko #28 1 year ago

    Dude's just crazy!!

  • phycus #29 1 year ago

    Clearly he's never played the games.

  • Soton4084 #30 1 year ago

    This film will be truly awful. Mark my words.

  • paulf #31 1 year ago

    The fighter is an an excellent film so I wouldn't write this off just yet

  • Mr_V #32 1 year ago

    It might even turn out to be a great film, for all we know. (Hey, trying to keep an open mind here!) It just won't have anything to do with the Uncharted we know and love.

  • Mockerre #33 1 year ago

    "I personally think it's really cool when you see that someone like Darren Aronofsky is going to make an X-Men movie or to get someone such as myself to make this picture."

    Oh, wow, the sheer arrogance...

  • mAc062 #34 1 year ago

    "It’s going to be real, it’s going to be raw." Its probably going to be shit.

  • HurbleBurble #35 1 year ago

    "It’s going to be real, it’s going to be raw." Missing the final part of that quote I'm guessing: It's going to have nothing to do with the Uncharted license.

    He obviously lacks any empathy with the 'core' audience of the film and shows a distinct lack of appreciation for the source materials. It's depressing in this day and age when companies are trying to push the boundaries between film and gaming that there is such an obvious disparity in reconciling the two, so much so that a director feels he has free reign to ignore the canon and create something only tangentially (if at all) linked

  • man.the.king #36 1 year ago

    "It’s going to be real, it’s going to be raw."

    Yeah.

    Raw Sewage.

  • NunianVonFuch #37 1 year ago

    Personally I think he was speaking of the family dynamic that's prevalent throughout each of the games. In the way that Sully is like a father figure. Presumably that'll be De Niro and then he's adding to that with Pesci as another Uncle. The internet is crazy protective of Nathan Drake for some reason, any other title and this would be a must-see film with this cast and director.

    Also it's fair enough for him to compare himself to Aronofsky, they're both Oscar-nominated directors. I think it'll be similar in tone to his previous movie Three Kings which was great! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyR5bk4_pHk

  • Kaminari #38 1 year ago

    Russel obviously has no idea what Uncharted is about, and he proves it time and time again. He also doesn't seem to realise that Amy Hennig is a hundred light-years above his league.

  • EVERYGAMER #39 1 year ago

    Lets just put Ben Stiller in it with DeNiro and call it "Uncharted: Totally focked up"
    Its a crazy film where DeNiro through his study of geneology discovers that Ben Stiller is related to Sir Francis Drake.
    Cue hilarious shenanigans as the duo travel to the Caribbean to unearth the truth and maybe learn a litttle bit more about themselves and being a family.
    Edited by EVERYGAMER at 22/02/11 @ 16:45

  • EVERYGAMER #40 1 year ago

    "The internet is crazy protective of Nathan Drake for some reason"

    Maybe because he is the protagonist of a duo, hopefully trio of AAA games that are as well known among the PS3 community as Master chief is with Xbox owners. No one wants the good name of Uncharted to be sullied by a movie cash-in. Wonder how many people would be screaming if someone suggested they were gonna restart the Halo film with a group of woefully incorrect choices for the actors and base it in a court room where he is prosecuted for the destruction of the original Halo by an intergalactic tribunal? I know I would. mind you a sort of Gears of War expendables with The rock, Jason Statham, etc would be awsome!
    Edited by EVERYGAMER at 22/02/11 @ 16:46

  • Scopeh #41 1 year ago

    what a dribbler.

  • tonyholland #42 1 year ago

    @EVERYGAMER Sullied? I get it...

  • man.the.king #43 1 year ago

    @EVERYGAMER

    "I know I would. mind you a sort of Gears of War expendables with The rock, Jason Statham, etc would be awsome! "

    Mickey Rourke as Marcus Fenix please :)

  • zedzee #44 1 year ago

    But people DO feel emotions when playing games. That's the whole draw, isn't it?

    When I lose a game, I might be a bit annoyed/angry and may get motivated to try again. When I win, I feel satisfaction at having completed a level/game and perhaps even happy.

    These and more are ALL emotions - HELLO!

    Just because he's never touched a game, let alone the one he's making a film on, does not mean that they don't provoke emotional responses!

    Heck, I'd bet that they provoke more emotions than anyone will for him making this film, except of course, disgust.

  • Acrid #45 1 year ago

    "The movie is without a release date."

    Let's hope it stays that way.
    I can honestly promise you on this day that not 1 penny of my hard (or easily) earned money will go towards this monstrosity.

  • MattEdWithCheese #46 1 year ago

    No, wesley

    uncharted is, at best, comparitive...

  • MeBrains #47 1 year ago

    Yeezz. but have you played the game yet?

    you'd be amazed at how much character is developed in it.

    in fact, when I explain Uncharted to friends, I use "this is an action-adventure flick where you are the main character". Never used that before in the 30+ years since I first started playing (largely) mechanic arcade games.

  • gareth886 #48 1 year ago

    I wasn't keen on this movie from the moment I heard I had Walhberg was lined up to star as Drake. He's a fairly bland actor and lacks the personality of Nathan Drake. Not that it matters anyway because it seems that the movie is going to be so far removed from the game that it doesn't really matter who plays the lead.

  • goatjugsoup #49 1 year ago

    Nothing he said made me feel any better about the uncharted movie he's making

  • Climhazzard #50 1 year ago

    As soon as they said Wahlberg was cast as Drake instead of Fillion i gave up on the idea of the film being any good, as much as i want it to be. Such as shame...

  • Lemming81 #51 1 year ago

    Everything this guy is saying makes it sound worse and worse. And the arrogance of him knows no bounds.

    David O. Russell, if you are reading: UNCHARTED ALREADY HAS A STORY. And that's what people who recognise the name 'Uncharted' want to see. The game was fashioned from action movie plotting. You have a large part of the work done for you and you still want to fuck it up? You're a moron.

  • king26 #52 1 year ago

    This is gonna be horseshit, I'll stick to the fine games. Though I would like a true to the game movie adaptation of God of War directed by Peter Jackson

  • Powerstreak #53 1 year ago

    His head is so far up his arse I don't think you could crowbar it out.