Uncharted Movie - What We Know So Far
Cinema's influence on video games cannot be denied. From the mountains upon mountains of film-game adaptations to the medium's fingerprint on the direction and writing of games, movies have a large hand in shaping games as an art form. Some games, of course, are more movie-like than others, and few studios are as successful at making cinematic games as Naughty Dog. With majorly popular titles like "The Last of Us" and its sequel wearing their cinematic influences on their sleeve, the company has built its reputation as the premier cinematic game developer in the world.
The shoe is about to be on the other foot, however, as we get closer and closer to Sony's film adaptation of Naughty Dog's action-adventure series, "Uncharted." The "Uncharted" film has had a long and troubled production history riddled with delays but has finally seemed to find its stride in the past year or so. Now, it seems reasonably certain that "Uncharted's" most recent release date will be final. Here is what we know so far.
What is the release date for Uncharted?
As previously mentioned, the production history for the "Uncharted" film has been anything but pretty. According to IGN, Sony first went public with their plans for an "Uncharted" all the way back in 2008. Since then, there has been no end to the number of production hurdles pushing back the film's actual release.
In the midst of more than a few rewrites, recasts, and director pass-offs, Sony first announced a theatrical release for 2016 (via Variety). Not long afterward, the release was moved to one date after the other, including 2017, March 2021, October 2021, July 2021, and February 2022. After a certain point, it seemed as if "Uncharted" would never be released. However, after 13 years and seven different directors, it seems as if the movie has reached the light at the end of the tunnel:
The "Uncharted" movie will premiere in theaters on February 18, 2022.
Who is in the cast for Uncharted?
One of the biggest draws for the upcoming "Uncharted" film are its two talented co-stars. The original "Uncharted" game series focused on the adventures of scruffy treasure hunter/thief Nathan Drake and his suave hustling mentor, Victor "Sully" Sullivan. Originally, the role of Nathan Drake was supposed to go to Mark Wahlberg (via The Wrap). However, after a number of rewrites, Sony decided to focus on a younger version of the character. They then gave the role of Nathan Drake over to "Spider-Man: Homecoming" star Tom Holland.
However, Sony wasn't about to push Marky Mark to the sidelines. The benefit of telling a story about a young Nathan Drake is that Sully is also a bit more youthful. This opened the way for Wahlberg to step in and assume the role of Drake's seedy father figure.
Of course, nothing is so simple when it comes to this movie. Fans have had mixed feelings about some of the film's casting decisions, especially with regard to Sully. Holland could make a convincing younger Drake, but Wahlberg as Sully would take some convincing. This is especially true after rumors circulated that this Sully might not have his iconic mustache for the duration of the film. Evidently, a stache-less Sully is next to heresy. Still, many fans remain optimistic about the film's starring duo.
The rest of the main cast includes: Antonio Banderas, who will be playing the villainous Santiago Moncada, the heir to a wealthy and powerful house that once lost a fabled fortune; Sophia Ali, who will be playing Chloe Frazier, Nathan Drake's longtime love interest who first appeared in "Uncharted 2" (via Showbiz Cheatsheet); and Tati Gabrielle, who plays Braddock, a mercenary working against Nathan and Sully (via Ars Technica).
What is the plot of Uncharted?
Sony Pictures has released an official synopsis for the "Uncharted" movie:
"Street-smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor 'Sully' Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world's oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate's long-lost brother...but only if they can learn to work together."
Based on the plot summary, it sounds like the movie will be very much in line with the video games. Most games in the "Uncharted" series start off with Drake and Sully hunting for treasure or an artifact once possessed by a famed explorer — Drake himself is a descendant of British navigator and buccaneer Sir Francis Drake. In this case, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is the first man credited with heading a circumnavigation of the planet. Without fail, this leads Drake and Sully on a wild goose chase rife with artifacts and mysteries until he discovers some lost city or vast repository of treasure.
Based on what we know about these versions of Drake and Sully, we can determine that the film will take place prior to any of the original "Uncharted" games. However, the film likely won't be a straight-up origin story, as the events regarding Drake and Sully's initial encounter were covered during portions of "Uncharted 3."