Uncharted director Ruben Fleischer reveals he is developing a Jak and Daxter movie adaptation with PlayStation as his next project. Created by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin and primarily developed by Naughty Dog, the video game franchise revolves around the titular characters as they venture through their fictional planet to uncover the secrets of their world and unravel the mysteries left behind by an ancient race called the Precursors. The Jak and Daxter game franchise incorporates both Eastern and Western cultures with elements from the sci-fi, steampunk and cyberpunk genres.
Since launching in 2001, Jak and Daxter has largely been a hit for Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment, having sold over 15 million copies worldwide as of April 2017 and receiving mostly positive reviews for its gameplay and platforming. As Naughty Dog has moved on to other franchises, the Jak and Daxter franchise has largely gone dormant, despite rumors swirling for the past few years of a reboot or revival in the series. Those who have been eager to see the duo return to the screen may not have to wait too long.
While speaking with Digital Trends for the upcoming movie, Uncharted director Ruben Fleischer revealed he is currently developing a Jak and Daxter movie adaptation. Though not offering much details on what's to come from the project, Fleischer teased it would be "a version" of the platforming video games that he's putting together with the help of PlayStation. The filmmaker expressed that getting the chance to adapt Jak and Daxter "would be really cool to bring to life."
Fleischer's reveal of getting to work on a Jak and Daxter movie adaptation comes on the heels of Uncharted star Tom Holland expressing his own interest in helping get a live-action film off the ground. Holland's vision for the film would see him starring as Jak and borrow a heavy influence from the filmography of indie powerhouse studio A24, taking a dark and weird approach to the material for a film. Though Fleischer's discussion isn't entirely a confirmation of the project being in the works, it could prove a promising sign of his relationship with Holland and PlayStation following his work on Uncharted.
Should Fleischer actually be working on a Jak and Daxter movie adaptation, it would mark the latest project to come from PlayStation Productions since the film branch was officially launched in 2019. In addition to Uncharted, the studio is currently at work on the Last of Us HBO series, the Anthony Mackie-starring Twisted Metal show and the Ghost of Tsushima movie from John Wick director Chad Stahelski. While audiences await further word on a potential Jak and Daxter movie, they can look forward to Uncharted finally hitting theaters on February 18.
Source: Digital Trends