The director and writer of the Uncharted movie likens the crime family dynamic to another not-so-honorable clan – The Sopranos. Yeah, I don’t get it either.
David Russell’s star is certainly on the rise as the director of acclaimed boxing film, The Fighter, which is up for seven Oscars this year including Best Picture and Best Director. Russell’s been linked to the cinematic adaptation of Uncharted and is busy penning the script now. The cast is not set in stone but Russell has confirmed that Wahlberg will likely play Nathan Drake, Robert De Niro will portray his mentor and father-figure Sully, and he’s considering a couple actresses for the role of spunky love-interest Elena. The videogame and its sequel tells modern adventure tale in the vein of Indiana Jones, but what drew Russell to the story was the honorable rogue angle.
“I think if we take that family dynamic that we have in The Fighter, and put that in terms of a grander stage, with a crime family that metes out justice in the world of art and antiquities. If you’re the head of a museum, or head of state, you’ve got to deal with them, and they’re badass,” Russell said before comparing the characters to the Mafia.
“They’re like the Sopranos in some ways, but they have great taste, and they have a sense of justice,” he said. “I would love to do that with Mark [Wahlberg], Robert De Niro, and a couple of hot women, it could be very thrilling.”
The mob connection seems a little stretched, but perhaps that’s why De Niro and Joe Pesci have been put forward as appearing in Uncharted. Will this kind of departure from the story of the game alienate its fans?
“I don’t think that you can please everybody, but I will tell you this – I won’t make it unless I can make a great movie,” Russell said.
What makes a great game doesn’t necessarily make a great movie, though. “Games are awesome because you’re playing them, so that’s just a whole other thing. I’m shooting things down and climbing over cliffs, climbing through rooms, of course you have that in an action picture, but if you don’t have the characters, and the whole world that’s really bizarre, I don’t think you have a movie that really grabs you by the throat,” he said.
“I want the gamers to be happy. I have total respect for the game. My kid loves playing it, I love playing it. I just want to create a world that takes it to another level, that’s another amazing world that’s more cinematic,” Russell stated.
That, at least, is a sentiment I can get behind.
Source: IGN
