Your eyes aren’t tricking you because the Uncharted film is real, hasn’t been postponed, and will hit theatres in 2022. Here’s how the film pulls from the PlayStation games, from setpieces to little details.
The live-action adaptation of the hit video game title, Uncharted, finally has a release date – and a trailer – after ten years in development and multiple filmmakers coming and going from the project.
Uncharted introduce spectators to teenage street-smart Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) and his first treasure-seeking journey with wisecracking partner Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg), based on one of the best-selling and critically acclaimed video game series of all time. In a global action-adventure epic, the two set out in search of “the greatest treasure never unearthed” while also chasing down clues that could lead to Nathan’s long-lost sibling.
The film depicts the duo’s early days as treasure seekers and adventurers in what is meant to be a precursor to the games. Sophia Ali (who plays Chloe Frazer, Drake’s love interest in the games), Antonio Banderas, and Tati Gabrielle all star in the film. Ruben Fleischer, the director of Zombieland and Venom, is in charge of the project.
The PlayStation game series Uncharted, created by Naughty Dog, was first launched in 2007 and has since spawned multiple sequels.
The Plot
Uncharted‘s cast is led by actors that are significantly younger than the video game characters they portray. The film will be a prequel to the Uncharted gaming series, taking place before the events of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.
There is an odd mix of known and unknown things in the plot of the film. We may deduce that the film will take place before any of the original Uncharted games based on what we know about these incarnations of Drake and Sully. The film will most likely not be a straight-up origin narrative, given elements of Uncharted 3 addressed the events surrounding Drake and Sully’s first encounter.
The majority of the details of this plot — which would take place between the flashback in Uncharted 3 and the first game — remain unknown. However, we’ve seen a few scenes from the film that hint at possible plot components. The first is a shot of a book about Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who is recognized as being the first person to lead a circumnavigation of the globe. In addition, shards of an old relic with unclear functions have been discovered.
Both of these features are in keeping with the Uncharted legacy. The majority of the games in the series revolve around Drake’s investigation of a renowned explorer. These always send him on a wild goose chase full of antiques and mysteries, leading him to some lost city of the gigantic treasure vault. Given this, it appears that Sony Pictures is staying faithful to the series’ origins, which Uncharted fans will undoubtedly love.
What we do know is that the film will be a prequel to the games, with Holland playing a younger Drake and showing viewers how he met and befriended Sully. If the film follows in the footsteps of the games, expect plenty of high-octane action sequences, dramatic combat scenes, and a plot that explains how Drake became the Lara Croft-style adventurer and treasure seeker we know today. From Drake’s Fortune and Among Thieves to the more current Thief’s End and The Lost Legacy, there’s much to play with from the Naughty Dog canon.
Release Date
The first Uncharted movie was set to be released in 2016 — suffice to say, it has been postponed several times since then. The latest postponement pushed the Uncharted sequel from February 11 to February 18, 2022.
The film will also be available on Netflix. Netflix now has exclusive rights to stream Sony’s theatrical releases, including Uncharted, Venom 2, and Morbius, according to a new contract. These films, however, will not be available on Netflix at the same time as they are in theatres, but rather within two years of their theatrical release.
In October 2020, fans were given a ray of optimism when photographs of Holland on set alongside Nathan Drake’s voice actor Nolan North (who presumably isn’t in the film) surfaced. After witnessing setback after setback, this was more than enough incentive for fans to become enthused about the video game adaptation once again.
Fans now have another reason to be confident that Uncharted will be released sooner rather than later, and that they will not be subjected to yet another release date delay.
Sources: Sony Pictures Canada, CNA Lifestyle, Kotaku, Digital Spy, Movie Insider, Looper