Apparently so, according to Variety:With a third installment of the PlayStation franchise "Uncharted" hitting consoles this fall, Sony is eager to get a version of the videogame onto the bigscreen, tapping "Limitless" helmer Neil Burger to write and direct the first adventure, "Drake's Fortune."
Burger replaces David O. Russell, who recently left the project due to creative differences.
Sony is high on "Uncharted," eyeing a film adaptation of the Naughty Dog-produced property as the potential launch of its own "Indiana Jones"-like franchise after the first two games turned into a standout hit exclusive to the PlayStation division.
First game, "Drake's Fortune," bowed in 2007, and introduced Nathan Drake, a descendant of explorer Sir Francis Drake, on a quest for goes on a quest to seek the lost treasure of El Dorado with the help of his friend Victor "Sully" Sullivan and a journalist. The sequel, "Among Thieves," was released in 2009, while "Drake's Deception" hits store shelves Nov. 11.
Overall, the games have sold nearly 6 million copies.
Title would be the first of the PlayStation-exclusive franchises -- which include the "God of War," "Resistence," "inFamous," "Ratchet & Clank," "Little Big Planet" and "Killzone" -- to be turned into a film at a time when Hollywood is eager to adapt videogames, toys and other pop culture properties.
Burger landed the offer after the studio and producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Charles Roven and Alex Gartner sparked to his new take on the pic -- one that's more closely tied to the game.
He will rework the project after Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer penned the first draft.
Mark Wahlberg had been interested in starring, but his status is unclear now that Russell (who worked with him on "The Fighter") is no longer directing.
Burger's "Limitless," which starred Bradley Cooper and was produced for $27 million, has scored $153 million worldwide since its March release for Relativity and Virgin Produced.
Helmer, who is repped by CAA, also directed magician tale "The Illusionist," roadtrip comedy "The Lucky Ones" and faux docu "Interview With the Assassin." He had once been in talks to resurrect Universal's "Bride of Frankenstein."
-Joey's Two Cents: It doesn't seem like a bad match at all...thoughts?
I'll see it...
ReplyDeleteApparently there's a huge uproar from fans of the games for Nathan Fillion to play to part, and I 100% agree with that choice. I could see him or Karl Urban. I'm banking Marky Mark drops out of the project if David O. Russell leaves, not to mention he was never official.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to want him, yes. He'd work, but so would plenty of others...it seems like a role almost anyone could make their own.
ReplyDelete"...[David O. Russell] recently left the project due to creative differences."
ReplyDelete"...producers...sparked to his new take on the pic -- one that's more closely tied to the game."
Once again, fanboyism rubs out any sort of artistic license.
Somewhat, it seems.
ReplyDelete