In an interview with MTV News, Mark Wahlberg has all but confirmed that he’ll be playing Nathan Drake in the upcoming Uncharted film, directed by David O. Russell. Mark Wahlberg recently starred in the Max Payne film adaptation, which garnered sub-par reviews and general grumbling from the gaming community. He also was nominated for an Oscar due to his supporting role in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed.
After approaching Wahlberg about his participation in the Uncharted film, he vaguely breached the subject by discussing Director David O. Russell’s talents:
“David is one of the best/writer/directors I’ve ever worked with. The idea that he has is just insane. So hopefully we’ll be making that movie this summer.”
Then MTV brought up the rumor of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci being involved in the film. Needless to say, Wahlberg let a little too much slip in his response:
“I’m obviously in whatever David wants to do but the idea of it is so off the charts: De Niro being my father, Pesci being my uncle. It’s not going to be the watered-down version, that’s for sure.”
Thus gamers everywhere frustratingly placed their palms upon their face. An Uncharted adaptation is likely to begin production in the summer of 2011 starring Marky Mark as Nathan Drake, with De Niro and Pesci supporting as his family.
Despite Mark Wahlberg’s previous dabbling into video games, the Sega Mega CD game Marky Mark: Make My Video, his recruitment into the Uncharted film isn’t a popular one. Uncharted 2 was 2009′s Game of the Year among a majority of outlets, and is now considered one of the best games ever created. Can Wahlberg, who had a very disappointing performance as Max Payne, step up his game to become one one of the most popular characters of all time?
Nathan Drake, the sarcastic, charming, and unbelievably charismatic adventurer seems like a very poor match for the typically stern Bostonian. Combined with the presence of two overwhelmingly popular actors, De Niro and Pesci, how can Wahlberg hope to carry such a film?
The only conclusion to be drawn is a complete misunderstanding of the Uncharted franchise. Obviously, it’s nonsensical for any director to give in to fan uproar (sorry Nathan Fillion), but artistic license shouldn’t come at the fans’ expense either. With Wahlberg as Drake, and the addition of both his Father and Uncle which were never introduced in the games, Russell is precariously close to insulting his main audience — something almost every game-to-film adaptation has done previously, to their downfall.
What Russell is creating, judging from what evidence is available, is not the Uncharted most gamers have played on their PlayStation 3. Russell’s talent is well documented though, so it would still be preemptive to deem the movie a failure. It’s just… not shaping up to what gamers would like.
What do you think of Wahlberg’s casting in the Uncharted film, Ranters? Do you see potential here, or are you doubtful? At least we have Uncharted 3 to look forward to, right? For a different perspective on the issue, make sure to check out Screen Rant’s coverage of the same topic.
Source: MTV News, Matthew Oden (Cookie Monster Uncharted)
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Unless “Uncharted 3″ is based off the movie… Lol i think i just jinxed it. Atleast we will always have 1 & 2.
Man I hope this casting doesn’t change the games in anyway. I am fine with them making crappy movies, just keep the games awesome.
/\ exactly what Christian said. I really think Fillion was the PERFECT fit, as all i can see from Wahlberg now is the SNL skit, and all the “say hi to your mother for me” jokes.
I really hope that Russell either goes for broke, trying to stick as closely to the videogame as possible, or goes the completely opposite way, and rewrites the characters, and makes an AAA videogame movie. Dont meet half way and give us yet another weak attempt at a crossover.
Terrible news, truely aweful. But as has already been said, as long as the games stay awesome.
But, what?
Oh, for the love of God, he better at least choose JK Simmons to play Victor Sullivan to somehow salvage this stupid sinking ship. For the love of Herbert Hoover, Mark Wahlberg would make a better Navarro even than Drake! I’m unhappy with this.