Video games have always had trouble making it to the big screen: for every “Resident Evil” there’s a “Halo”-like project stalling. The big-screen adaptation of “Uncharted: Drake's Fortune” video game series was first announced during in the run up to “The Fighter” with David O. Russell potentially re-teaming with Mark Wahlberg. However, the studio, not wanting to deviate too far from the source material, replaced the director with “Limitless” helmer Neil Burger last summer. But now it looks like the production has hit another speed bump as Burger has bowed out of the director’s chair and a pair of new writers have joined the adaptation.
“National Treasure” writing duo Marianne and Cormac Wibberley have been hired to rewrite “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune,” which will follow “Nathan Drake as he seeks the fabled lost treasure of El Dorado.” The studio will apparently wait until a new draft is turned in until they start talking to directors.
To be honest, we lost all interest in the project when Russell left for greener pastures, and the hire of the “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” screenwriters doesn’t help. At this point, does anyone honestly think it’s going to be anything else other than a mediocre 'Indiana Jones' knock-off? If you’re jonesing for some adventure check out the IMAX re-release of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” during its limited engagement run from September 7th to September 13th. Meanwhile, Burger is staying busy with a different franchise entirely, "Divergent." [Variety]
I think video game adaptations could work if what was developed was the world and not the actual story on screen. It would give the screenwriters an already well-established world to build an original story atop of. Bioshock in particular, Halo. Fallout would be an exception perhaps but we've already seen so many dystopian future, road-trip-type pictures it might seem a little tired. With Uncharted… what's there to say, really? This movie will suck. I guess that might suffice. I adore the games but they're hardly groundbreaking from a narrative perspective.