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Neil Burger charts course for 'Uncharted'
Neil Burger is charting a course to write and direct Sony's adaptation of Naughty Dog's hit videogame "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune."
The helmer, who most recently scored with Relativity's "Limitless," a Virgin Produced pic that starred Bradley Cooper, is in negotiations to shepherd the action adventure after David O. Russell recently left the project due to creative differences.
Burger landed the offer after the studio and producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Charles Roven and Alex Gartner sparked to his new take on the pic, which Sony will now move forward with. Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer had penned the first draft of "Uncharted."
It's unclear whether Mark Wahlberg will remain interested in starring in "Uncharted" now that Russell is no longer helming. Pic would have reteamed thesp with "The Fighter" director.
Sony is very high on "Uncharted," eyeing a film adaptation as the potential launch of its own "Indiana Jones"-like franchise, which borrows heavily from 1930 serials, after the first two games have turned into a standout hit for the company's PlayStation division. A third game, exclusive to the PS3 console, hits store shelves Nov. 11.
First game, "Drake's Fortune," bowed in 2007, and introduced Nathan Drake, a descendant of explorer Sir Francis Drake, who goes on a quest to seek the lost treasure of El Dorado with the help of his friend Victor "Sully" Sullivan and a journalist. The sequel, "Among Thieves," was released in 2009, while "Drake's Deception" is upcoming.
Overall, the games have sold nearly 6 million copies.
Burger, who is repped by CAA, also directed magic tale "The Illusionist," roadtrip comedy "The Lucky Ones" and faux documentary "Interview with the Assassin."
Source: variety.com