Coming off the success of The Fighter, David O. Russell was fielding offers to helm a number of different projects from studios. He also busied himself by writing a 200-page script for the videogame adaptation of Uncharted. Sony Pictures was enthusiastic at the thought of having an Oscar-nominated filmmaker directing a film based on one its best-selling games on the PlayStation 3 system. Unfortunately, Russell’s script had nothing in common with the franchise as he was writing in characters that weren’t in the game, and he had never played the game. And yet Sony Pictures was on board to go ahead with his script. Fans of the videogame breathed a little easier when it was made public that David O. Russell left the project. Now he’s looking at other potential projects (including one with Brad Pitt).
Variety is reporting that Neil Burger, who recently helmed the modest hit Limitless, which has made upwards of $152 million, has nabbed the job after he pitched his idea to producers Ari Arad, Charles Roven and Alex Gartner.
Uncharted is a big move for Burger who, up until now, has directed films like Limitless, The Lucky Ones and The Illusionist. Burger’s hiring is a step in the right direction, especially if his pitch to the producers was well received.
With a director secured, now the ball is in Mark Wahlberg’s court if he’s still on to play Nathan Drake. Since he’s buddy-buddy with David O. Russell, having appeared in three of his films thus far, one would think that with him gone from the project that he’s likely to leave as well. Unless the thought of starring in a big tentpole release is too lucrative to pass up. Though Burger may go in a different direction and want his Limitless star, Bradley Cooper, to play Nathan Drake. Nathan Fillion is probably still toying with the idea of playing Drake as well.
