Avi Arad producing Uncharted: Drake's Fortune film

by Alan Tsang on Oct 2nd 2008 5:30PM

Avi Arad, the producer of blockbusters such as the Blade series, X-Men series and an upcoming Everquest movie, has been revealed as the producer of a cinematic adaptation of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. In an interview with Kotaku, the 60-year old producer (Kotaku has him listed as 33, leading one to suspect they are actually speaking with Ari Arad, Avi's son) talks about how Nathan Drake isn't just an Indiana Jones clone. Drake is a complicated character, according to Arad. "He's not a benevolent guy, but he's certainly not a great guy. Indiana Jones was always a good guy and he relentlessly did the right thing. Drake is a guy who's being hauled over to virtue throughout the game."

The film won't bring you to the island as quickly as the game did, according to the producer. Instead, the film will add some background to the story and "explore some of the modern day piracy that's going on today in South America." How do you feel about this film thus far? Is Arad the right guy for the job? Or would you rather have Brett Ratner?

[Via Variety]

Source

Tags: Avi-Arad, film, movie, movies, Naughty-Dog, SCE, Sony, Sony-Computer-Entertainment, Uncharted, Uncharted-Drakes-Fortune

Reader Comments (56)

wow.. really..i dunno how i feel bout this yet

I'm not a fan of movies based on games. If they want to bring this to the big screen make it with some other kind of story just don't rehash the games story.

Actually if the game's story is good then why not rehash it and add a little meat to it? There's nothing wrong with that.

Because I've already seen the story unfold. I know whats going to happen. Wheres the fun in that?

I don't know. I enjoyed watching the LOTR movies even though I knew what was going to happen from reading the books :)

I think the Variety article should have been posted with this. From it:

""Lost Planet" (to be distributed by Warner Bros., David Hayter currently writing a script"

So, Solid Snake is scripting Lost Planet? Weird huh?

He's a film writer, so it's not really that special that he's writing a film.

I guess to me it was interesting that he is so tight with Konami and is off writing a screenplay for a Capcom game. Seems like he'd be better suited to writing a MGS screenplay.

I think he's tried, but they don't like his take. He's been campaigning and creating petitions on the internet though.
And I don't think he's *that* tied to Konami, I mean he does their English voice acting and is kind of marketed to this side of the world, but I going to guess it's just a job to him.

On one condition: Nathan Fillion HAS to play Drake. Otherwise forget it.

Awesome! I've been waiting for this news, the game felt like a movie because of the entire production that went behind it... it was only a matter of time!

And hells yes, Nathan Fillion would make an AWESOME Drake!

Hell no, FBI agent booth from Bones has to play him, hands down.
but if this becomes too popular, EA will buy the rights for future games and we're screwed.

@ ghlbtsk

I freaking love that idea.

I will be devastated if the go with the man my brother thinks was born to play Drake, Brendan Fraser.

My thoughts exactly!!
When I first played Uncharted, I actually spent a bit wondering if he did the voice over. Once I was convinced he didn't, he still always reminded me of Mal from Firefly, always! He has that same wisecracking-when-I'm-about-to-die attitude and stuff.

Yep, I was coming here to say the same thing. This role is tailor made for Fillion. I wouldn't be surprised if Mal was an inspiration for the character of Drake in the game.

Hell, let's go ahead and throw in Joss Whedon as the director while we're at it ;).

Vcize, now that would be an awesome movie.

He's a good director, and this won't be one of the more played out lets make this game a movie type film. This is actually one of the better video games to make into a movie cause its not a far stretch, playing this game is like watching a movie almost. F*** bret rattner or whatever his face is.

Arad is a producer and has done some good things of late with Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. No news on director but there has been talk of Fillion being up for the part before. I think it was in an interview with Naughty Dog.

But the game WAS a movie, sort of...

That's what I thought--they made it a cinematic experience, so it's like you're playing a movie. I felt the same way playing Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror. To then make it a movie seems backwards. But on the plus side, we couldn't complain that the game sucked compared to the movie ;)

I'd go see Heavenly Sword--come on, Angelina, while you're young.

Why's everything have to be a movie?

Check out his Wikipedia entry and see how many Marvel character and game adaptations (TBA) are listed:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avi_Arad

Lost Planet? Mass Effect? wtf...

The only person to play Drake is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Flanigan

He is John Shepard on Stargate Atlantis. He totally fits the part and looks like they modeled Drake with him in mind!

Nathan Fillion... i even thought the voiceover was him. Looks and sounds just like him!

Every game turn in to a movie... all for the money... and srew the gamers that "have to saw" their games with some bad reputation thanks to those crapy moviemakers.

Isn't benevolent and great almost the same thing?

Nathan will be played by Johnny Knoxville, that's for sure, since it's based on him.

i doubt he will do the job.

Knoxville only game-to-movie adaption were if the would do a No More Heroes movie. Fits him perfectly.

I always thought Dane Cook fit the part.

DIE IN A FIRE

"Because I've already seen the story unfold. I know whats going to happen. Wheres the fun in that?"

I guess they better stop producing all movies and plays based on books.
What's that? Hamlet you say? Been there, done that. Les Miserables? Pshh! I've already seen that story unfold, why bother with putting it on broadway or anything?

Xmen...then Drake will get raped by this guy. He will propably cast Ben Affleck for drake and then make a story that have nothing to do with the game just a short cameo...crap.
What makes movie director thing they can add more "background" to the story when the movie is max 3hours compared to the game that its 6hrs?

The reason why a film needs more backstory than a game is due to pacing. In a game players want/need some action pretty much immediately to get a feel for the game's dynamics. Remember Drake practically STARTS with a fight on a boat.

Ironically the pacing in Drake was awesome. After the initial skirmish there's a good thirty minutes of exploring before it turns into an action game again.

Films might also follow this particular formula to an extent (starting with a big bang) but, in general, they spend the first 45 minutes building the character so the audience can empathise with him/her. Hence, there will be more backstory for the Drake movie - and rightly so.

This is no reflection on the game; the story in Drake was probably one of the best I've ever played through. Ok, the much maligned "zombie" factor was probably a little hokey but, for the most part, the acting, direction, dialogue, plot and production were stellar.

Just my 2c

I think they should go with Nathan Fillion. People were going on and on about the similarities before there was even talk about the movie.

I haven't seen much of Nathan Fillion's movies....or seen Serenity or Firefly....okay I missed the boat totally. He's a new face to me and probably other people and he has a pretty good fan base as well. Much like Christian Bale before Batman...or should I say Equilibrium?

I think that's a brilliant idea. Uncharted's story was one of the most captivating of any video game. Drake was a super interesting character and I can see a unique story being told.

The cool part about this game was that it felt like a summer blockbuster movie as you played it. Actually making it into one kinda makes it lose it's charm... But oh well, these things happen, as long as it's not a load of tripe.

I hope they get Emily Rose to play Elena in the movie as well, she's cute and she fit's the look.

If they can get Nathan Fillion as Nathan Drake and J.K. Simmons as Sully, and I'll go see it.

Second.

Third!

That would be awesome!

and Anthony Hopkins as that bad guy in it?

You guys are idiots if you think Brenden Frasier or Johnny Knoxville, Dane Cook or the other fool.... Everyone Knows that Nathan Fillion should play the part!! NATHAN FILLION NATHAN FILLION NATHAN FILLION!!!

NATHAN FILLION ??!?

Not EVEN

"Not Even"???? your blind dude. The image of nathan drake was created in the exact likeness of nathan fillion. Shame, damn shame.

The Last Guy should play Nathan Drake.

I kind of thought that Bruce Campbell would make a good Sully. Have you seen him on Burn Notice? He practically has the look down already.

Great idea! Bruce Campbell would be awesome.
I agree for Nathan Fillion as Drake though, hands down.

Those two would be fantastic together.

Nathan Fillion Nathan Fillion Nathan Fillion

and bruce campbell as his older buddy

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Avi Arad producing Uncharted: Drake's Fortune film

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