Tom Holland shows off his transformation for Uncharted, which was motivated by costar Mark Wahlberg. While he rose to superstardom for his portrayal of an iconic superhero as the lead of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Holland looks to channel a whole other gear when he portrays Nathan Drake in the highly-anticipated adaptation.

Based on the wildly popular video game franchise of the same name, specific plot details about Uncharted are being kept under wraps, but Holland has said the film will serve as an origin story for a younger version of Nathan. Uncharted also looks to be ramping up after numerous delays. For his part, Holland is already preparing to get into the mindset of the famous fortune hunter. The actor is currently in the first steps of that process, undergoing a shift in his appearance.

Related: Why Sony Wants To Make Uncharted Before Spider-Man 3

Holland posted a photo on his Instagram account, showing off his transformation for Uncharted and crediting Wahlberg for motivating his workout regimen. In the movie, Wahlberg is slated to portray Victor “Sully” Sullivan, a character who serves as a mentor to Nathan. From the looks of things, it appears that certain aspects of that friendship have translated behind the scenes as well. You can check Holland’s photo below.

For some fans of Nathan Drake, the casting of Holland in the lead role points to a larger problem with the upcoming adaptation. The arguments against Holland, while acknowledging that the actor is quite capable and popular, also point out that Nathan’s strengths as a character come from the fact that the character’s older age makes him weary and well-worn. By making Uncharted a prequel, and by placing a younger performer at the center of the narrative, the film version risks losing a part of what made the video game franchise so unique. Whether or not Holland is aware of those criticisms specifically, the actor is clearly making an effort to do justice to the world of Uncharted.

Holland’s turn as Nathan is also notable for how it signifies that he’s actively trying to diversify his filmography. Holland’s future roles include starring in The Devil All the Time, a psychological thriller which is set to be distributed by Netflix, in addition to the gritty crime drama Cherry. These genres, which are somewhat removed from big blockbuster fare, are slated to be released around the same as tentpole projects like the Spider-Man: Far From Home sequel, Chaos Walking, and Uncharted. So early into his run as a leading man, Holland is attempting to illustrate that he can headline crowd-pleasing action movies as well films which fall a little out of the mainstream. The actor’s commitment to transforming for Uncharted is an indication that he’s approaching all of his upcoming performances with the same level of excitement.

More: Tom Holland’s Three 2021 Franchise Movies Explained

Source: Tom Holland

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