4 Years Ago, This Long Overdue Video Game Movie Was Better Than Expected (& Still Needs a Sequel)

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For decades, Hollywood has been trying to turn video games into movies and TV shows, and this trend is growing as games become more like films themselves. Modern, high-budget games often feature stunning visuals, thrilling action, and strong stories with well-developed characters – qualities that naturally translate to the screen. Despite this, adapting a video game isn’t always simple, and many projects get stuck in development for years before ever being made.

I remember when the Uncharted movie was first announced – it felt like forever ago! They started working on adapting the games back in 2008, just a year after the first one, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, came out. It had a really long development process, but it finally hit theaters on February 18, 2022. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, and I’m still hoping we get to see a sequel someday.

Uncharted Turned Out Better Than Expected After Delays

It’s clear why Sony quickly wanted to make an Uncharted movie. Though often compared to Tomb Raider (people jokingly called it “Dude Raider”), the first Uncharted game, Drake’s Fortune, was heavily inspired by adventure films like Indiana Jones and National Treasure. Like those movies, it told a fast-paced, exciting story about searching for treasure around the world. Drake’s Fortune was a critical and commercial success, proving there was a strong interest in the Uncharted series. So, as Naughty Dog began working on sequels, a movie adaptation felt like a logical next move.

While the Uncharted video game series released five installments within a decade, the movie adaptation faced a much more difficult path. It went through several changes behind the scenes, with many different writers and directors – including Academy Award nominee David O. Russell – involved at various times. The project finally gained momentum in 2020 when Ruben Fleischer, known for directing Zombieland and Venom, signed on as director. Because the film was in development for so long, Mark Wahlberg, initially considered for the role of Nathan Drake, ended up playing Victor Sullivan instead. Tom Holland was eventually cast as Drake, and filming began in March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused further delays.

Movies that take years to make often don’t turn out well, but Uncharted surprised everyone. Though some fans questioned whether Tom Holland was right for the role of a young Nathan Drake, the film successfully captured the fun and adventurous feel of the video game and classic adventure movies that inspired it. It doesn’t try to be groundbreaking, and that’s part of its charm – it feels like a throwback to those beloved old adventures. Uncharted arrived at just the right time, filling a gap in the market while audiences were still waiting for new installments in franchises like Indiana Jones and National Treasure. There was a clear appetite for this type of action-packed story.

While Uncharted wasn’t a hit with critics (it has a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), many viewers will find it more enjoyable than the reviews suggest. Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg share a fun, lively chemistry, playing off each other as a student and mentor. The film reimagines their characters as younger and less experienced than in the games, but their relationship still works well. It delivers the humor and exciting action sequences fans expect from an adventure movie, even if it sometimes feels familiar. Considering the reputation of video game adaptations, Uncharted is a surprisingly entertaining and solid film.

Uncharted Fans Are Still Waiting for the Movie Sequel

Even though critics had mixed opinions, the movie Uncharted was a financial success, earning $407.1 million worldwide and becoming one of the top-grossing films of 2022. This proved Sony made the right decision in adapting the game for the big screen. While the last Uncharted game came out in 2017, and the game developers at Naughty Dog have moved on to a new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, there was still a large audience eager to see the film, especially as movie theaters were recovering from the pandemic. This shows how popular and lasting the Uncharted franchise remains as a key part of PlayStation. Sony didn’t release the movie immediately after the last game, but it didn’t need to – the games are still well-loved by players.

It’s no surprise Sony wanted to make more Uncharted movies. Back in the summer of 2022, the studio’s CEO, Tom Rothman, called the first film a potential franchise and said they were interested in making sequels with Tom Holland. However, four years later, Uncharted 2 hasn’t gotten off the ground. Progress has been slow – Mark Wahlberg mentioned in 2024 that a script was finished, but there’s still no news about when filming will start. Without a confirmed release date or production schedule, Uncharted 2 appears to be stuck in development, despite the first movie’s success.

There are good reasons why the sequel to Uncharted is taking a while to start production. Tom Holland has been very busy with other projects, including the TV series The Crowded Room and the blockbuster films The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Since the movie relies heavily on Holland’s involvement, the sequel can’t move forward until he’s available. The writers are also carefully working on the script to make sure it’s the best it can be, which will ultimately be good for the film. It’s better to take the time to do it right than to rush production just to make money quickly.

Thinking about how the first Uncharted movie came together, it’s interesting to consider some other possibilities. Directors like Travis Knight and Dan Trachtenberg were considered early on, and both have since proven they can bring unique ideas to well-known stories. It will be interesting to see if Sony reaches out to them, or another director, for the next film. While Ruben Fleischer did a good job with Uncharted and could return, action-adventure series often benefit from different directors to keep things exciting. To ensure Uncharted becomes a long-lasting franchise for Sony, bringing in a new creative perspective could be a smart move and lead to even better films.

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2026-02-18 16:12