Shawn Levy discusses UNCHARTED filming date and casting details

Computer Game fans can be passionately fanatical at times, which is why it its no surprise that there is so much attention and questions being asked of new Uncharted director Shawn Levy about the film. In yet another extensive Q&A session reported by Collider, he revealed some more about when we they expect filming to start and casting details for the key role of Nathan Drake:

I’ve been interested in this project for years. I’ve played and loved every iteration of the game. I think it’s largely a popularly accepted notion that it’s as cinematic a game as we’ve had, maybe ever, certainly of late. And it’s cinematic in that it’s not only wildly visual, but it’s really rooted in character and a very specific tone and a sense of fun, right? When is the last great, fun, fucking action-dynamic, treasure-hunting movie? Right? It’s not Indiana Jones, it’s not National Treasure; it’s very specific, it’s all kind of anchored in Nathan’s tone.

So I’ve been interested in it, and I’ve just been quietly letting people know I’ve been interested in it, but other people have been involved, I’ve been busy, and a moment finally appeared recently where I was like, “Me! Okay, me!” Sony and the producers involved were like, “Yeah, that actually makes perfect sense.” I’m like, “Yeah! That’s what I’ve been saying for a little while.”

I am unabashedly thrilled to be making that next year.

Well, the good news fans should take from this is that after all the hassles in getting this film off the ground, there is finally a commitment to start shooting it and make it a reality. Fans can take comfort that whether the film turns out to be excellent or rubbish, it will at least be out soon. As to when next year they will start shooting, he elaborated further:

I’m definitely not filming before March. The goal is to film in the late spring, early summer.

Late spring, early summer in the U.S. equates to around April, May. So if all goes to plan we could probably expect to get it sometime in 2018.

However, the big question remains about the casting and in particular finding the right person to helm the film and franchise to make it a success. And it seems its something they’re actively talking about, but pretty much haven’t landed on anybody yet:

The truth is, the conversations that are happening right now are with the studio and the producers talking about who feels right to us and to me.

I’ve been pitched everyone. God bless you, Twitter, but I made a joke that, “You’re saving me the money of hiring a casting director, Twitter,” because from Nikolaj [Coster-Waldau] to Oscar Isaac, [Nathan] Fillion, everyone that you would, [Chris] Pratt, Chris Evans, Chris Pine, I mean the suggestions are…

It’s every actor who is ruggedly handsome, which is to say every movie star, and who looks anything like the square-jawed, chiseled-featured Drake. I’m not actually going to base my casting on Twitter suggestions. Maybe I’ve even said the name in this room; who knows?

So – in the end it could come down to the shallowest of categories – someone who is ruggedly handsome. So I stand a chance – time to brush up my CV.

In the end, if they are to make the film franchise as successful as the games and to make use of what appears an incredibly fun script, they will probably need a massive dose of  charisma to go along with it. I’m sure Nick has already penned his man-crush Pratt for the role, but who do you think should play the lead role of Nathan Drake in the Uncharted movie?

Last Updated: November 10, 2016