David O. Russell to Write and Direct Video Game Adaptation UNCHARTED: DRAKE’S FORTUNE

by     Posted: October 8th, 2010 at 7:25 pm

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The idea of a David O. Russell adaptation of the action-adventure video game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune has been in the back of our minds all summer.  Columbia Pictures has made it official, hiring Russell to write and direct the film, which tracks the journey of Nathan Drake: Treasure Hunter.  I’ve never played, but Matt is a fan of the game, and does a great job of breaking down the pros and cons of Russell’s style and the cinematic suitability of the game in the initial post.

Russell’s boxing movie The Fighter is in the can, which hits theaters on December 10th with Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams headlining.  The writer/director has Old St. Louis with Vince Vaughn and Chloe Moretz on the horizon, which recently pulled him away from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  Hit the jump for the official Uncharted announcement.

DAVID O. RUSSELL TO WRITE AND DIRECT “UNCHARTED: DRAKE’S FORTUNE”

CULVER CITY, Calif., October 8, 2010 – David O. Russell (Three Kings, The Fighter) has been set to write and direct Columbia Pictures’ Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, an action-adventure based upon the bestselling PlayStation 3 game, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures.  The film will be produced by Avi Arad, Charles Roven, Ari Arad, and Alex Gartner.

The story follows the adventures of treasure hunter Nathan Drake.

Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, “David is a tremendous choice to take on this film.  He’s equally adept at combining all the classic elements involved in this property: great character development, strong comedy, and amazing action sequences. He has a brilliant vision for this material and we know he will bring his original, unique voice to this adaptation.”

The game, developed by the acclaimed team at Naughty Dog, was one of Sony Computer Entertainment’s best-selling and most critically acclaimed games for the PS3.  Named IGN’s Best Action Game and Best PS3 Game, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune sold one million copies in the first 10 weeks of its release at the end of 2007 on its way to moving more than 2.6 (confirm) million copies and spawning a sequel.  That sequel, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, was a major commercial and critical success, winning Game of the Year honors from several influential critics, being named the most critically acclaimed game of the year by Metacritic, and selling more than 3.8 million copies worldwide.  Both games are among the all-time best-selling games for the platform.

The project will be overseen at Columbia Pictures by Tolmach and Jonathan Kadin.




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  • Eli

    This is so friggin awesome. I have to say I have faith in the project so far. I think it’s in good hands and I’m positive that they’ll pick a great cast.

  • Ryan

    I don’t play a lot of video games but I got this one for Christmas and loved it. For one thing, I enjoy that they don’t point out every single thing you have to do. You have to puzzle solve. It’s also good controls, although the bad guys don’t get hurt as easily as real life. 5 bullets in the leg and shoulder and they’d be near dead, not still charging you.

    I just hope they use Nolan North and Emily Rose in the film. I know they won’t, and that’s too bad

  • http://twitter.com/CerpynCarpiog Hywel Jones

    unless Nathan Fillion is cast as Drake, I’ll be very disappointed.

    • http://twitter.com/aesthnoir aesthnoir

      agreed. I think Russell is an exciting pick for producing this anticipated movie. But it would be far less exciting and far less deserving of a paid movie ticket if Nathan Fillion isn’t cast as Nathan Drake.

    • http://twitter.com/aesthnoir aesthnoir

      agreed. I think Russell is an exciting pick for producing this anticipated movie. But it would be far less exciting and far less deserving of a paid movie ticket if Nathan Fillion isn’t cast as Nathan Drake.

    • Matt

      Sorry to say it guys, but I think that Fillion is a little too busy with Castle to do a movie.

      • Dylan

        not if they shoot during the off season

    • Bogie

      He would have been a great choice around the “two guys and a girl” days but now he’s just too old and fat to play the role.

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  • Project 86

    Nathan Fillion is too old he will be 40 in 5 months

    get someone like Chris Pine or Bradley Cooper

    • http://twitter.com/CerpynCarpiog Hywel Jones

      I don’t know, i’d say Nathan drake is early 30′s. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for a 40yr old to play that.

      • Bogie

        The character is 28 in the first game and I would assume 29 in the second.

  • Bogie

    They need to find someone on the cusp of becoming big name actor. I would prefer they use someone unknown who can become the role and not just play it. The biggest problem I see is that they will try to blend the two games which would be a HUGE mistake. They need to focus on the first game for the first movie and if done right they can have a major franchise.

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  • Anonymous

    My choice would be Joe Flanigan to play Drake. He sure looks the part and has the talent and the action/adventure experience to make it a terrific movie!

  • nicscifichick

    Joe Flanigan would be ideal for this role. Sure, he’s older than the character, but he’s physically fit and well used to action/adventure roles and working to a gruelling schedule, so he could easil pull this off. Plus, he has great screen presence, and has the same looks, humour and body language as Nathan Drake. I hope they give Joe a shot at this; he could really make this movie shine.

  • SeixoLady

    @Bogie Well, Nathan Drake might be that age but he doesn’t look it! All that action must have worn him down! So he needs to be played by someone older, whose face carries experience and character (and looking like a fortyish Drake!) They’ll certainly need more of the rugged action hero and not somone who looks fresh out of college and simply built up a few muscles weight training. Someone who can run with a gun. Athletic, no matter what their age? Up for the stunts. And that was Harrison Ford when cast for Indiana. And that’s Joe Flanigan now in my opinion. And thankfully, if ever an ‘unknown’ gets to be chosen, he can do humour too and throw so much meaning into a look (I imagine there’ll be little opportunity for dialogue?) Just like Harrison Ford.

  • Karenvandehoef

    Joe Flanigan for Nathan Drake!!!!

  • William

    For Nathan Drake these are my top five actors Chris Evans, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Pine, Garrett Hedlund, and Taylor Kitsch.

    For Elena these are my top five Emily Rose, Alice Eve, Rachel McAdams, Malin Akerman, Keira Knightley.

    My pick for Sully is Pierce Bronson,

    for Gabriel Roman I like Geoffrey Rush,

    For Atoq Navarro I say Edgar Ramirez

    for Eddie Raja I say Erine Reyes Jr.

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