Uncharted film "going back to the game"

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 19 July, 2011

New director "starting from scratch".

New Uncharted movie director Neil Burger is going back to the PlayStation exclusive video game for inspiration.

The Limitless and The Illusionist director told Crave Online the new team is "starting from scratch" on the script following previous director David O. Russell's acrimonious exit.

"No, I haven't seen his screenplay on it," he said. "Mainly we're beginning from scratch and going back to the video game. Because there's a lot of cool stuff, actually, from the videogame, if you know it…

"It's really one of the most cinematic video games, and one that has really developed characters. So, you know, there's a lot of cool, really intense things that, if they work for the film's story, I want to use them."

Burger's comments are sure to enthuse Uncharted fans who were concerned by the direction Russell was taking the film before he walked out.

Russell's vision for the film would have seen Mark Wahlberg's Nathan Drake as a member of a family of antique traders that also included father Robert De Niro and uncle Joe Pesci.

Burger's vision, however, appears closer to video game developer Naughty Dog's virtual world.

Explaining the difference between Uncharted and Indiana Jones, Burger said the video game was very "now".

"Indiana Jones is nostalgic. It takes place in the 1930s, and the later ones are a little bit later, and it kind of plays on that nostalgia. Whereas Uncharted is very much up to the minute, of the moment. It's very 'now' and contemporary and it has this sort of rough and very intense feel that a movie like The Bourne Identity has.

"It's really up to date in its own way. The Bourne Identity isn't your father's Cold War movie and this is a very different kind of treasure hunt movie. It's very real and it has kind of an insane, wild feeling that comes out of the character; Nate being this con man and a bit of a hustler, living by his wits, ballsy and capable of anything."

Will Burger cast Nathan Fillion in the role of Drake, as so many fans wish?

"He's a good actor," Burger said. "I think there's a lot of really good actors who don't even look like [Nathan Drake] who could play it! Where we are right now is that we're literally starting from scratch on the screenplay, and I think that once we finish it, then we'll go to actors and see who's available and who's right for the parts. Whenever that happens."

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 (39) Latest comment 7 months ago

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

  • PixelPirate #1 10 months ago

    wow sounds like he gets it. Lets hope it translates in to a good film and stays faithful to the source material

  • linea #2 10 months ago

    Good Burger!

  • RodHull #3 10 months ago

    The worry is that they'll feel the need to attach a big name to the lead to ensure bums on seats. Fillion would be my number one choice, knowing Hollywood they'll probably go for Nic Cage.

  • LazyNinjaUk #4 10 months ago

    As long as this has no resemblance to David O' Russel's "Family of good-hearted antique-dealer-treasure-hunter" bullshit, I think we could be ok. It could be about Nathan Drake as an alcoholic, single-parent tax attorney who finds an alien robot living in his basement and it would still be better. :|

  • menage #5 10 months ago

    Thank god they dropped that other nitwit.

  • YenooR #6 10 months ago

    Bradley Cooper would be my choice.

  • ecureuil #7 10 months ago

    Get Fillion in. He wants the part as much as we want him to have it. Nathan Drake is basically Mal anyway.

  • TonyCB #8 10 months ago

    bradley walsh for me

  • Augmentation #9 10 months ago

    I hope Nathan Fillion isn't cast as Drake just as fan service. I mean, I'd rather an actor that doesn't look like Drake but has the right chemistry with other cast members (a major part of the games) than an actor that looks just like Drake and ends up ruining the movie. I'm not saying Nathan Fillion isn't right for the role or anything but if there is a relative unknown that fits the role perfectly I'd take the latter. (Ah, contentious.)

  • TafKas #10 10 months ago

    Dylan Mcdermot looks just like Drake, but perhaps he's a little too old now...

  • KayJay #11 10 months ago

    Bradley from S-Club for me!

  • The-Bodybuilder #12 10 months ago

    Welcome to Good Burger, Home of Mr. Good Burger, can I make a movie?

  • towser #13 10 months ago

    Now then, make sure there's no cheese Burger...


    Sorry!! :-P

  • CaptainQuint #14 10 months ago

    This has Nathan Fillion all over it.

    So what if he's forty? He'd just hit the gym and tone up. He'd soon look young and fit enough to convincingly play Drake. All that chemistry stuff comes naturally where Fillion is involved.

    It'd be madness to overlook such a PITCH-PERFECT actor for the part.

  • berryl227 #15 10 months ago

    thank god!

  • irrelevanthuman #16 10 months ago

    I have no desire to see the movie, I love the world, characters and stories that Naughty Dog have created with Uncharted and its a video game world for me. Having said that, at least it appears that Burger is showing respect for the source material, and even if he is paying lip service, its a good sign for those Uncharted fans who want to see the flick. The references to the Bourne movies suggest he might be going for some shakey cam, quick cut action a la Taken, can't anyone (Spielberg and Cameron excluded) deliver classical cinema anymore?

  • MavSkipper #17 10 months ago

    I say bring in Nolan North as Drake.

  • Gitsmith #18 10 months ago

    Danny Dyer for Nathan Drake!! Who's with me!?

  • Spekingur #19 10 months ago

    I'm hoping for Nathan Fillion or Joe Flanigan as Drake.
    Joe Flanigan is also John Sheppard. From Stargate Atlantis.

  • rudderless #20 10 months ago

    I'd say Bradley Cooper's got to be strong favourite given that he worked with Burger on Limitless.

  • kinky_mong #21 10 months ago

    Shane Ritchie to play Nathan Drake!

  • bodypopper #22 10 months ago

    Never mind Indy, surely Romancing the Stone was a big part of Uncharted's genesis? Uncharted is a great game franchise inspired by films with a cinematic approach but it doesn't need to be made into a film itself.

  • scuffpuppies #23 10 months ago

    A film inspired by a game inspired by a film.

  • captainrentboy #24 10 months ago

    There isn't a chance in hell they'll cast Fillion.
    They'll want a lead who will actually get non-gamer's to go out and watch it, one who has a good record of money making hits under their belt.
    Fillion is certainly not that guy.

  • Marshall2008 #25 10 months ago

    Get Joe Flanigan from Stargate, he fits the part.

  • arcam #26 10 months ago

    I don't understand why everyone is so set on Fillion anyway. Is it because he looks like Drake? Because that's a crappy reason to cast someone.

    I mean, I like Filllion too, but what makes him so suitable for this role that couldn't be said about a hundred other actors?

  • DilutedDante #27 10 months ago

    @arcam

    It's because he's a good actor who has played a very similar role before, and he has said he wants to do it, so it's not just a paycheque to him. He'd actually care about it.

    @captainrentboy
    I don't think they will necessarily go for that at all. I can perfectly see a complete unknown getting the role. But saying Fillions audience is gamers sells him short. He's got a lot of female fans, originally from his time on Firefly, but a ton more since Castle started. Castle, for the record recorded more viewers last year than each of Lost, Bones, Glee, Family Guy and The Simpsons.

  • NineOverSeven #28 10 months ago

    You don't see it thrown around but I think John Hamm would work really well. I'm not just saying that because I have a mancrush on him either ¬_¬

  • Evolution #29 10 months ago

    @arcam

    What Dante said.

  • AdamAsunder #30 10 months ago

    @arcam

    Because Drake is more or less modelled on Nathan Fillion. It's clear that Naughty Dog (as well as Bungie) are massive fans.

  • Porcupine_I #31 10 months ago

    could this man have actually played the game?? :-O

  • FortysixterUK #32 10 months ago

    These are both amazing casting ideas:-

    "I'm hoping for Nathan Fillion or Joe Flanigan as Drake."

    I totally rate Firefly AND SGA !

  • Bigglesworth #33 10 months ago

    Nathan Drake is basically Mal anyway.

    Arrrgghh!! No! Completely different personalities!

  • camo_kill #34 10 months ago

    This Burger has made me a happy me(al)

  • Feanor #35 10 months ago

    Fillion is too old. YenooR's idea makes a lot more sense.

  • LLT_taz #36 10 months ago

    I think Bradley cooper... he has that serious side but with a funny edge to him... he has been in many big buget, big grossing films. he would also attract alot of non-gaming audience to this movie

  • TeeHee #37 10 months ago

    > Nathan fillion is too old

    If 30 year olds can play 18 year olds in other movies, then someone in their 40's can play a 30 something modern indiana jones.

  • Mono_X #38 10 months ago

    Harrison Ford was nearly 40 when he was in Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981.

  • mastershots #39 7 months ago

    Mark Wahlberg should be nathan drake! He looks like nathan drake! Nathan Fillion looks nothing like drake! and bruce campbell should be sully! he's perfect for the role. his sam axe charecter on 'burn notice' is almost a mirror of sully and he looks like sully. keeping the voices the same,but losing the visual image of the main charecters is not a good idea!
    Edited by mastershots at 15/10/11 @ 07:27