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Neil Burger is now cooking up the Uncharted movie
Many fans of the Uncharted series flipped when director David O. Russell said he planned to turn the film version of the games into a story about a family of art thieves. Sure, gaming fans having beef with a game movie isn't so rare, but we relished the news that Russell left the project in late May. After what seemed like a major setback, Sony wasted no time playing ketchup: Meat the new writer and director of the Uncharted movie, Neil Burger. Not familiar? Lettuce bring you up to speed: Burger is perhaps best known in the film medium for his work as the director of Limitless, a recent Bradley Cooper picture about a man addicted to a pill that makes him a genius. (The film also starred Patricia Kalember, "Patty" to her friends). It's unknown whether Mark Wahlberg will remain in the starring roll, but, for what it's worth, we think Burger's last leading man would be a fine fit, especially if he mustard up the charisma required to play Drake. Sounds like it could be a well done film to us, we'll grill them on it and let you know what we hear.
David O. Russell quits Uncharted movie
Talk about missing out on a climax! Here we were working up a nice head of rich, foamy hatred for David O. Russell's upcoming film adaptation of the Uncharted series, and the guy goes and quits on the whole project! If you'll remember, Russell (director of The Fighter and Three Kings) had planned to tell a story about a family of art thieves and call it "Uncharted," for reasons we still can't grok. No reason was given in the exclusive Variety report, but we're hoping for a two-word release on the subject later that simply reads "Sanity prevailed." [Thanks, Tyler C.]
David O. Russell responds to Uncharted movie fan concerns
David O. Russell is currently making headlines as the Academy Award-nominated director of The Fighter. But gamers are probably more interested in one of his next projects: a silver screen adaptation of the Uncharted series. The numerous changes made to the core story have some fans concerned that Russell simply doesn't get it. Responding to those accusations, Russell told SlashFilm that he's "played the game a bunch of times" and has even met Naughty Dog's Amy Hennig. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm very respectful as far as the core content and spirit of the game." Russell argues that "there's not a bunch of movies you can point to that are made from games that are amazing movies, that stand up to time as a franchise or as [individual films]." By focusing on "what I think is going to be an amazing movie," Russell says that "it's going to be real, it's going to be raw, it's going to be intense, it's going to be original, and it's going to be propulsive." (And he apparently doesn't know who Nathan Fillion is.)
Russell still writing Uncharted flick, talks picks for Elena
The push-and-pull saga of the Uncharted film adaptation continues, as David O. Russell has informed Empire Online that he's still working on the script (despite reports to the contrary). He also reaffirmed that he wants both Mark Wahlberg and Robert De Niro to star in the film. Speaking of the film's female roles, Russell noted that he has "cultivated" the character of Elena "quite a bit." Said Russell, "I love the woman characters and the more robust they are, the more robust the movie." When asked if Amy Adams would fit the role, Russell stated that he would "love" her in the part (Adams recently worked with Russell on The Fighter). Another name mentioned by Russell: One Scarlett Johansson. Of course, Russell seems to be overlooking the obvious. One word: Streep. Come on David, she's box office gold!
Wahlberg apparently still playing Uncharted's Drake
You guys have got to stop playing with our emotions. First we hear Mark Wahlberg is definitely playing Nathan Drake in an Uncharted movie being created by The Fighter director David O. Russell. Then, Uncharted 3 director Justin Richmond told us that Russell had denied the whole story. Now, Wahlberg tells Moviehole "David O'Russell [sic] is writing right now and hopes to direct. It's myself, Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro." Listen guys, we know we want to write a maelstrom of angry tweets about this project, but we need to know precisely what unseen force we'll be railing against. Can you please just help us out and tell us specifically who will be to blame for ruining Uncharted for us forever? [Thanks Andrew T.]
David O. Russell talks about his vision for the Uncharted movie
We're gonna deliver this news quickly, like the hasty removal of a Band-Aid: David O. Russell's Mark Wahlberg-fronted Uncharted film adaptation isn't off to an awesome start. After Wahlberg confirmed his involvement last week, Russell spoke to the LA Times about his vision for the film, saying: "This idea really turns me on that there's a family that's a force to be reckoned with in the world of international art and antiquities ... [a family] that deals with heads of state and heads of museums and metes out justice ... We'll have the family dynamic, which we've done in a couple of movies now. And then you take that and put it on the bigger, more muscular stage of an international action picture, but also put all the character stuff in it. That's a really cool idea to me." Russell added that the pace at which the film's development is moving along is "a locomotive," and that he's already penned about half of the script -- meaning there's plenty of time to just like, sit back, spend some time with the two already very movie-like Uncharted games, and just like, reevaluate some stuff. Specifically, all of that stuff you said right there, about a family that doles out justice to museum owners. That whole ... part. Everything. All of it. As a fun experiment, we added some other, totally made-up quotes about other film projects Mr. Russell (O'Russell?) might be interested in. Join us!
Report: David O. Russell back on board for Uncharted movie
Director David O. Russell has had a very on-and-off relationship with the film adaptation of Naughty Dog's Uncharted series -- in that he was once on the film, and then he was off of it. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Russell has signed back on to the film as director, temporarily sidelining his other upcoming project, a film remake of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Dude's got taste when it comes to his choice of projects, we'll give him that. The report doesn't mention whether or not Russell's rejoining of the crew means the film will make its initial 2011 release window. Nor does it mention whether our heart's wish will come true, and get Charlie Sheen to star as the series' ill-tucked protagonist, Nathan Drake. Think about it! He's perfect.
David O. Russell off Uncharted movie, 2011 release unlikely
David O. Russell, director of Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees and Spanking the Monkey, is no longer being considered for the job of directing the Uncharted: Drake's Fortune movie. The LA Times reports that Sony-owned Columbia Pictures, the movie's producers and Russell were unable to reach terms satisfactory to all parties, and now the studio has to start looking for directing talent once again, while also searching for lead actors. The Times' Steven Zeitchik speculates that the delay caused by the lost director scuttles any chance Sony had of having the movie done in time for a 2011 release. At this rate, it'll probably coincide with the release of Uncharted 4: Baby Drake's Crystal Crawl. That's right, we're calling it now: Naughty Dog's going to change up the gameplay with a tale from Nate Drake's infancy.
