Before we get in to juicy details I would like to mention that we had a lengthy discussion if should we post this at all, after all the information is essentially stolen. However, other sites have started posting details and the information is filtering in to the public domain so we are going to post a few choice extracts. It should also be noted that these details are from around July 2014, so things may have changed since then.
Right then, moral dilemma over, on to the movie. The script “greatly expands on the characters and makes some significant changes that should be welcome (like who Elena and Roman are), as well as Drake’s backstory” and will be set almost entirely in jungles and caves. Locations may also include urban South America, the Panama Canal and London.
A discussion about Drake and how they can differentiate him from Indiana Jones and Nicholas Cage’s character in National Treasure reveals they seem to have understood our favourite PlayStation hero.
Drake is contemporary and more complex than Indiana’s period and altruistic do-gooder character. Drake is more Han Solo – (and who doesn’t love Han Solo?) – a guy who is in it for himself, he mixes with a criminal element and often gets in trouble, but ultimately stands up for what’s right and discovers he has a heart. National treasure was a bit soft with Nicolas Cage and more about the historic puzzle solving. Drake should feel more like the Bourne or Bond version of the action adventure genre which is something audiences haven’t seen yet – a grittier, contemporary globe trotting adventure steeped in the antiquities world that exists today.
The National Treasure movies are referenced a number of times but are noted for being “goofy” and “silly”.The Uncharted movie will be a lot more gritty, but will still retain a sense of humour with banter between Scully, Elena and Drake. “It’s also worth noting that the Nate and Elena relationship is a lot sexier and more fun than the nic cage – Diane Krueger relationship in NT. A lot more!! The romantic tension in NT was pretty lame. ”
The team, which at the time included Mark Whalberg, are said to be “blown away” by the mock trailer and pre-viz. As for Whalberg, “It does seem that the attributes that people like about Nathan Drake correspond nicely with Wahlberg’s screen persona and he may be the element that makes the movie credible for the core fans and also bridges the appeal to a broader demo.”
Emails also reveal that Thor star Chris Hemsworth was also offered the role. At present no actor is tied to the role of Nathan but it sounds like Whalberg is still very much in the frame and was still involved in the movie as late as November last year.
The Budget is set from $100-$140m with predicted returns of around $400m.
There is one last thing, one very big, last thing. A draft of the script from July 2014 has also been leaked. I’ve had a very brief look and it is really, really good. I’m not got to read the whole thing, or indeed post the link, and I suggest you don’t go looking for it either as it will spoil the movie when it eventually comes out. Let’s just say pretty much everything you could ever want from an Uncharted movie is in the mix , including scenes from all three games.
Source: Wikileaks
dizwod
Intresting stuff. I am wary that they were going to ruin it, but swaying from the national treasure vibe is a good thing, But what could you expect NT was a disney movie.
The casting is the main issue for fans, and if they considered Mr Hemsworth…then well hes a bit too…Thor, maybe his brother? Though hes a bit young I guess.
Time can only tell if this will be another Super Mario Bros. or not….
Kennykazey
I’m not going to get my hopes up. I’ll watch it, but I’d rather watch it with low expectations and be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.
I personally believe it’s stupid to make a film out of a game based on film in the first place.
Tuffcub
Erm which film is Uncharted based on? Just because it’s treasure in a jungle it doesn’t mean it’s a copy of Indy, plenty of treasure hunter films existed before then, this lot for starters..
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
The Secret of the Incas (1954)
The Naked Jungle (1954)
Valley of the Kings (1954)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
MacKenna’s Gold (1969)
Check this out.. a screen from Secret of The Incas… look familiar?
Plus you could argue Journey to the Centre of The Earth and other films are more like Drake as the include fantasy elements. Indy wasn’t the first jungle treasure film by a long shot.
Kennykazey
Whoa, calm down tuff guy.
I never mentioned Indy though did I? I wrote “film”, not “a film”. It’s inspired by several films and tropes, perhaps most heavily Indiana Jones as you yourself have clearly picked up on, but certainly not solely.
The reason Uncharted is interesting is because it’s so inspired by a different medium than it’s own. If you make a film out of it, then there’s nothing special about it anymore.
Avenger
Whoa, what a reaction. Where I have seen such a thing before!!!
I agree with Kennykazey. Part of what made Uncharted special was its blend of the cinema spectacle with gameplay. There was also pastiche to a lot of different films through all three of the PS3 games.
That doesn’t mean an Uncharted film won’t be rather good, but it may well as just be a revival of the all the films mentioned. I think story is going to be the critical point, and whereas it was special in Uncharted in part because of its cinematic heritage, as a film it has to have a unique formula otherwise it will risk being another action/treasure-hunter film.
As for it being stupid to make a film of it, business-wise it is quite clever. Why risk investing in something new when there’s a well established franchise name and a genre which could be revitalised massively. But on the creative side of things, it will be a challenge to create something as unique and entertaining to films and Uncharted was to games, I agree with that.
Pixel_nme
Wasn’t The Naked Jungle the one with Keith Chegwin
double-o-dave
I’ll probably watch it but I’m not too fussed about an Uncharted movie. Whenever I see a movie I like, I think about how cool it could be as a game but never the other way round.
Saying that, I wouldn’t mind seeing Heavenly Sword as a movie but thats probably due to the fact it would have 2 heroines wearing skimpy outfits. Either that or Dead or Alive Volleyball could make a pretty cool movie too.