When Neil Burger(The Illusionist
) took over for David O. Russell as director of video game adaptation Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
, one of two things were assumed:1. That this meant Mark Wahlberg would also depart, since his running buddy was no longer involved.
2. That everything O. Russell planned storywise, which meant expanding and focusing on the Drake family of treasure seekers, would be out the window.
Updating fans of the blockbuster video game of the film's status with Comingsoon, Burger pretty much confirmed both of those things have indeed happened.
Burger: "Mainly we're beginning from scratch and going back to the videogame," .It's really one of the most cinematic videogames, 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."
The site also noted that Burger hasn't even looked at O. Russell's plans for the adventure project. He would go on to compare the property to The Bourne Identity
, in that it's not going to be your typical treasure hunting film, in the same way Bourne wasn't your typical Cold War spy film. I can get down with that. But what about Nathan Fillion? The Serenity
star has been the desired face of the lead character ever since the film was first announce, and when Wahlberg was on board cried like a bunch of schoolgirls with skinned knees about it. Well, that's how I took their response, anyway...Burger: "I think he's a good actor," Burger adds, "[But] 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."
Sounds like there's still a lot of work left to be done, but it doesn't appear as if Wahlberg is in the picture anymore. I don't think Fillion fanatics should be holding their breaths either. Although Drake's Fortune has a rather large and vocal fanbase, it's going to take a proven commodity to sell this beyond the station of other video game adaptations. Without one, you'll be seeing Drake's Fortune in the $5 bin next to copies of Tekken
and DOA: Dead or Alive
. (which I love, not gonna lie). So would make for the best Nathan Drake? Having not ever played the game, I can't really say.
