Uncharted, one of Sony’s biggest video game-turned potential movie adaptations, has endured a rough year. Back in October, Academy Award-nominated director David O. Russell was signed as the Uncharted helmer. One month later, Russell began talking-up his now controversial “family dynamic” angle and brought-on Mark Wahlberg to star as fan-favorite adventurer, Nathan Drake.
However, through all the ups and downs that led to the eventual exit of the director (and subsequently Wahlberg as well), one thing remained constant – many fans were still holding-out hope that Castle star, Nathan Fillion, would get a crack at playing Drake on the big screen. Unsurprisingly, Fillion is still very interested in the role – but on one very respectable condition.
At Comic-Con 2011, we got a chance to catch-up with Fillion about the recently vacated starring role (and director’s chair) for the Uncharted movie, and while the actor was forthcoming about his interest in the part, he made it clear that he didn’t want to step on newly-signed director Neil Burger‘s shoes – but also wasn’t above trying “Inception” if it’d help his chances:
“I am certainly still interested in playing Nathan Drake. I think every actor I know wants their action-adventure hero, their Indiana Jones. That would be a good one for me, I think. What I don’t want is people pressuring that poor man [director Neil Burger] and souring him on the actual idea. If we could somehow just… do you remember the movie Inception? I think that’s what we need to do. We need to let him land on the idea on his own.”
Fillion’s respectful petition for the part is no doubt in response to the growing mass of Uncharted fans who have pushed the boundary between a passionate appeal and flat-out harassing ex-director Russell for casting anyone but their top choice. While Russell’s approach to the film and casting differed dramatically from the source material – and would be, many argued, Uncharted in name alone – fans were especially harsh in their reaction to the director’s attempt at bringing the franchise to the big screen.
It’s great to see that Fillion, who no doubts wants to headline his own “action-adventure hero film,” is interested in seeing the best Uncharted film that Neil Burger can make – even if it means that he misses out on the opportunity to play Nathan Drake. It’s hard to imagine Burger will experiment with as many liberties as Russell, especially considering Sony was reportedly against the “family dynamic” idea, and as a result, it’s unlikely that they’d have signed-off on an Uncharted film that was so disconnected from the game. Regardless, the Castle star’s approach to the situation is good food-for-thought for any fans who will be crestfallen if Burger also passes on Fillion.
That said, it probably wouldn’t hurt for an exceptionally dedicated (and brainy) fan to get to work on an Inception-like dream machine – Nathan Fillion (and plenty of fans) would undoubtedly be grateful.
Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick and let us know who you’d like to see play Nathan Drake in Uncharted.
We’ll keep you up to date with further casting details as pre-production on the Uncharted film gets underway.
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Thankfully I’ve begun work on the Inception machine last year and just happen to need my first test subject.
Lets get off the subject of Drake for a while who will play his wise cracking mentor………”Clooney”……..”De Niro”
If the casting can capture half the magic of Firefly’s cast than you will be in good sted. Nathan is a good pic for cast center….
Cheers,
Wes…
Uncharted is not a “family” game. So the movie shouldn’t be toned down either. A rated R Uncharted movie would be perfect. If fillion doesnt get cast I vote for bradely cooper. That dude can play drakes sarcasm.
Bradley cooper? That’s a new one, doesn’t have the look entirely but he can definitely act the part.
I think Bradley Cooper would suck at it, it’s so not his type of role!
I think Fillion would be great as Mr. Drake.
Joe Flanigan is a much better choice for Nathan Drake.
I second that/
I give that a third.
A very enthusiastic fourth!
Id rather see Nathan Fillion as Ant-man.
let him do both LOL
maybe if he was 10-20 years younger.
Believe me I love Fillion and I think he would be great as Drake but when I look at Drake I think Gerard Butler
Wtf? Really?
same here.
i like Fillion but i just dont think he has what it takes to carry a blockbuster film and if he does get cast i have a feeling the film wont be that great but will have a cult following due to it staring Fillion but will get remade a cpl yrs later or the sequel will have someone else as drake and everyone wants him to play drake coz some of drakes personality is the same as the character Fillion played on FireFly but as for looks he doesnt look anything like Drake i think the likes of Gerard Butler who has already been mentioned would be a good choice or even the likes of Karl Urban or David Boreanaz would be decent or if u want a younger actor what about Josh Duhamel he has that sort of look and is good at doing action and comedy.
I think Burger will go with Bradley Cooper. They already worked on Limitless together and it turned out alright! That was a good movie. This shows great potential for the Uncharted movie!
Why the hell are they gonna get Mark Wahlberg to play Nathan Drake…. Marky Mark cant act for crap!!!! He sucks!!!!!
Can you read? Or do you have the attention span of an infant?
Easy Jake, alot of these guys are slow and you need to practice alot of patience with them. I know its frustrating, I totally get it, But there’s nothing we can do with the low IQ of other people, its just the way they are….
Do you need to really insult people?
Are you saying I insulted him? I thought I was just basically stating a fact in a very polite matter…
I responded to Jake not you but now that I see your comment an insult is an insult. No need to be a jerk to random people online.
Its the truth! Read the article, then read the intelligence of his comment!
I recently began playing the games back to back to prepare for U3. I quickly became a fan and LOVE the series.
That said, I don’t see why there’s all this fuss over fillion being Drake. He’s too old and doesn’t look like him. Maybe a little but entirely? No way. Choose another actor to back uncharted fans.
Fillion is a terrible choice. He’s far too old for Drake. Wow. What are people smoking? An Uncharted movie is a bad idea all around… look at what it did for Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, etc. STOP WHILE YOU’RE AHEAD DIRECTORS. The focus of Uncharted was to make it a game that plays like a movie. Isn’t it a bit counter-productive to go ahead and make one anyway? Is nothing sacred any more? JESUS. They’re really trying to make me resent something that I truly love.
Agreed…
Add max payne to that as well….
Definitely agree.
Come on guys! I don’t think we’ll get any of the above examples! Sony is behind the adaptation and they already fired a director based on his disrespect for the source material.
You all should look up what Neil Burger had to say when he got the job!
Believe me when I say this movie has the potential to turn the tide against previous attempts at VG movies.
Tekken, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, what else? Anyone?
You just listed fighting games… which at their source have terrible backing stories. This is the first game besides the first splinter cell that made me think “could be a great movie”. I put my faith in Burger.
LOL @ ATG
Please, Stop! It Hurts!
double dragon, mario bros, ect
I agree with the post above. An Uncharted movie will not play out well, I mean, just look at Resident Evil. They’ll probably throw in some character who’s not from the game series. Meaning, a male Alice as the face of Uncharted.
Nope. Just nope. Leave Uncharted as a the top selling, action-packed, extraordinary game and leave the craptastic game movies in the gutter.
Honest truth here: The entire time I played Uncharted, I thought the actor in the game was Nathan Fillion. A lot of times, games and animated movies make the character look like the voice actor (see “The Force Unleashed”). It wasn’t until I beat the game and saw the credits that I realized it wasn’t him.
In other words, yeah, he’s meant for the role. And the picture of Drake at the top isn’t as close to looking like Fillion as the way Drake looked in the first Uncharted. It was a spitting image of Fillion.
They share a resemblance but I think Fillion is too old, better than Mark Wahlberg but still. I personally would go with Bradley Cooper.
What about Jeffrey Donovan? or Jensen Ackles?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010075/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0232998/
Fillion is a bit to old for the part and needs to lose a few pounds but that can always be fixed in Hollywood. I think Bradley Cooper would be a much better fit for the part and Gerard Butler would be a horrible cast IMO, not sure why, I just don’t see him as Drake.
I say Nathan Fillion as Drake and let Len Wiseman direct. I think he was awesome at directing the first 2 UnderWorld films.
He is too old and too fat, end of story.
I’d like to see Cooper in the part… but what about Karl Urban?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XiHfSw4YeFE/TEkxfDfo-bI/AAAAAAAAABU/XOTSa4NHbm8/s1600/Karl+urban.jpg
He kinda looks the part? Urban could probably pull off the smart assed attitude, although not as well as Cooper.
he’s the only one
PEOPLE, if you’ve seen him in Firefly you know why he’s perfect.
Seen it. He just doesn’t seem gritty enough… He’s a bit mild.
wel Nathan Drake isn’t “gritty” at all, he’s a funny guy in gritty situations… Sounds like a certain character from firefly…
Sorry, I just don’t see it. He looks too nice and friendly.
LOL….
he looks like nathan drake he can do action films wha mor u want!
Typecasting?
I’ve said it before, but as a fan of Firefly and this game series, I’ve always had an itch to see Fillion in this role. I appreciate Fillion’s response, but in all honesty Burger would be insane not to at least have a sit down and truly consider The Brown Coat in this role.
Urban would be my second choice, but even then I’d feel a little let down.
You Guys!
It just hit me! I know who should play Drake!
DRAKE!!!…The Hip Hop and R&B artist, DRAKE!
I know what your thinking, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Boooooo, hisssss!
Tim, at the risk of being scolded or banned, youre a moron.
Wow do you really think he was serious? People need to lighten up and know sarcasm when it’s there.
Bradley Cooper
I like this idea.
Nooooo to Cooper, he’s tainting hollywood enough!!
The fact that you don’t like him doesn’t mean he’s “tainting” Hollywood.
Indeed. Go see Limitless. Cooper was solid as a rock.
Fillion, or what’s the point. He works out for a couple of months and he would be ready to go. Also no offense to Cooper fans, but he is not much of an actor. Btw NF tweeted today he thinks Sam Worthington is his choice for Drake.
Sam Worthington – I cannot see as Drake. However, if they don’t bomb the first movie and it moves on to Among Thieves… I think he’d make a good Harry Flynn.
*shrugs* But that’s just me =)
Sam…Worthington…
That’s funny. That’s hilarious.
I love Fillion but dont you think we will just see Mal instead of Drake on screen? I personal think the best man for the job, and Ive been saying it since I heard about the movie, would be James Roday from Psych. Again I am a big fan of Fillion but he looks a bit too old for the role.
I’d love to see Roday as Drake!
Nathan Fillion FTW
Fillion should have his chance to be the next Indiana Jones type and he a fan of this stuff and appreciate it so he be more excited in playing the role of drake and doing a better job. When he goes to comic con he has a better connection with the fans he just like us so it perfect. So I really hope he gets this part we need a actor like him who wants to do it because he going have fun and morelikely do a better job and more chance see him in sequels. Harrison Ford loves being Indy and Fillion would Love being Drake plus i hear he Fan of ford take up his trait so i all game good luck Nathan Filion.
Indy