Dan Trachtenberg

’10 Cloverfield Lane’ helmer Dan Trachtenberg has taken over Sony’s big screen ‘Uncharted’ video game adaptation.  He replaces Shawn Levy (‘Stranger Things’) who departed to helm the Ryan Reynolds comedy ‘Free Guy’ at 20th Century Fox, which incidentally is also centered around a video game, albeit a fictional one.  Reportedly, Sony has been courting Trachtenberg ever since ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ was released in 2016.

Since then, Trachtenberg directed the “Playtest” instalment of ‘Black Mirror’ and the pilot for ‘The Boys’, Amazon’s upcoming adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s bloody comedic comic book series.

‘Uncharted’ will serve as a prequel to the popular game series, with Tom Holland portraying a younger version of the lead character Nathan Drake.  Bryan Cranston is expected to costar as Drake’s mentor, the roguish Victor “Sully” Sullivan, although he has not been confirmed to have signed on.  The film will depict their first encounter.  The most recent draft of the screenplay was penned by Jonathan Rosenberg and Mark Walker.  Charles Roven, Alex Gartner, and Ari and Avi Ara are attached to produce.

Prior to Levy, David O. Russell, Neil Burger, Seth Gordon, and Joe Carnahan had all been attached to direct ‘Uncharted’.  The script has been worked on by Russell, Carnahan, Thomas Dean Donnelly & Joshua Oppenheimer, Marianne & Cormac Wibberley, David Guggenheim, Mark Boal, and Rafe Judkins.  Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg divulged that they had been asked to write the script numerous times, but had declined.  Before Holland signed on, Nathan Fillion lobbied for the role of Nathan Drake, but was dismissed by Russell when he was attached.  Mark Wahlberg was attached for quite some time, but after he dropped out, the role was reportedly offered to Chris Pratt, who passed.  Holland was signed after he proved to be so well-liked in Sony’s ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’.

‘Uncharted’ reportedly hinges on Holland’s schedule.  He will be needed to heavily promote ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ this summer.  Reportedly, Sony hopes that ‘Uncharted’ can begin production once Holland’s ‘Spider-Man’ commitments are completed.

Check back for updates.

Source: Variety