Okay, now I’m starting to get worried. At the beginning of October, word broke that filmmaker David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees) had been tapped to direct a big-screen adaptation of the popular 2007 video game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Now it seems that Russell, who is evidently also writing a completely new screenplay, is bringing Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci along for the ride – which is great news – and that Mark Wahlberg may star – which is not so great news.  Hit the jump for more.

Wahlberg and Russell have teamed up quite frequently over the years to stunning results – Three Kings anyone? In Russell I trust, but in this case, Wahlberg just isn’t right for the role of Nathan Drake, fortune hunter and adventure extraordinaire. Why not just nab Nolan North, the guy who voiced the character in the game? Or even Nathan Fillion, who has been lobbying for the role since mid-October? I’m all over the casting of De Niro and Pesci – the two are an amazing onscreen duo, having paired up for Martin Scorsese three times before with Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino – but Wahlberg just doesn’t fit.

All of this is just a rumor [via Showbiz 411] now, mind you, but a troubling one. Part of the problem with films based on video games is they fail to capture the essence of the source material. Remember when Universal opted for zombies-run-amok as opposed to demons-from-Hell in their horrendous big-screen adaptation of Doom? I sure do. In this instance, Drake embodies the heart and soul of the game. His casting is perhaps the most important detail, moreso than the FX, story, or supporting roles. Drake's role requires an actor with charisma, charm; not just machismo. Think Indiana Jones sprinkled with a tad of Jack T. Colton from Romancing the Stone. Does that sound like anything Wahlberg could pull off?