With an embargo lifting on the Uncharted 4 goodness last night, several interviews with some of the higher-ups at Naughty Dog started to surface too. While most focused on the game itself, some prying media who got to attend the event wanted to know just how the process for transforming The Last of Us and Uncharted into films was going. Neil Druckmann, director in Uncharted 4 and a player in both films, provided an update.
Speaking to IGN, Druckmann explained that the Uncharted film was still seeing some consistent work being done on it, although Sony isn’t exactly keeping them in the loop at all times. In general Naughty Dog gets an update now and then on progress, with the team providing feedback on what they think works and what does. According to Druckmann, an Uncharted film can only be successful if the relationship between its three leads (Nathan, Elena and Sully) is nailed on the head.
“The most important part to get right is Nathan Drake, Nathan Drake’s relationship with Elena and Nathan Drake’s relationship with Sullivan. If you don’t get that right, I don’t think the film’s going to work. If you get that core right, there’s a chance it could work.”
But if you’re more excited for the film adaptation of The Last of Us, Druckmann didn’t have good news. Despite penning the script, Druckmann says the project has seen absolutely no work done on it for the past year and a half. Right now, the prospect for the film ever getting made looks thin at best.
“I know I said in an interview a while back we had a table read, got the script to a good place and it kind of entered development hell like these things tend to do. There hasn’t been any work done on it in over a year and a half.”
I must admit though that as much as I loved The Last of Us I do see Uncharted having far more potential for spinning into a film franchise. Especially with the rebirth of Lara Croft on the silver screen imminent, Sony might just be timing this just right.
Last Updated: April 5, 2016
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 11:21
I wonder if this is a good Idea. Although The Walking Dead seems to be on the decline in terms of what constitutes a good show, I get the feeling that some of the tone from The Last of Us was unceremoniously pillaged for The Walking Dead…..
chimera_85
April 5, 2016 at 14:18
the boring dead was always boring imo
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 14:33
Yeah, It’s turning into a suck fest of late.
konfab
April 5, 2016 at 11:39
The Last of Us worked because it had hours to hone its perfect character development.
Films do not have hours to do this.
oVg versus
April 5, 2016 at 12:01
Dont tell the Laymen that. They are still wondering about Wonder Women exposition 😛
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 14:41
I was actually pretty hyped to see that. No anymore. Ben Affleck and his chin just killed it. How do we ever forget Daredevil and the teeter-totter. It makes the eyes bleed other eyes that are bleeding blood.
oVg versus
April 5, 2016 at 14:47
Tell me about it. ITS DAREDEVIL. lol how old does one need to be to forget all these other canons and reboots.
STAR WARS FTW. Fcuking loved the new film. 40 years and the same characters played the same characters WIN 🙂
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 14:50
While Star Wars was epic on a epic scale, Even though I am in serious denial every time I see the bad guy in “Girls” ( Something I only ever catch the end of waiting for the next show ) I am currently in love with Interstellar. It gets better every time I watch it.
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 14:36
Yet Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood…….But I guess you can’t cast him in everything. I doubt he would do a Zombie/Video-game movie.
David
April 5, 2016 at 11:43
Let’s be honest, The Last of Us was special BECAUSE it emulated the best movies have to offer – emotional gravitas.
As good a game as The Last of Us was, it would be a pretty average movie – all the tropes are there. It was a technical and emotional masterpiece because nothing like it existed as a game, but as a movie there’s lots of competition.
It’s like taking a photo of the Mona Lisa, the original is exquisite for what it is – a photo of it has the same content, but is less impressive.
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 14:38
Lets face it, The Last of Us may have used “tropes” as you say, But it was somewhat of a watershed moment in compelling gaming narrative and if nothing else, that alone is a achievement of note.
David
April 8, 2016 at 08:51
Yeah, that’s pretty much what I was saying. It’s compelling gaming narrative but par for the course when you think about film narratives..
oVg versus
April 5, 2016 at 11:59
games are games and films are films.
If you want a good Last of Us movie then watch The Road.
oVg versus
April 5, 2016 at 12:00
If you want a good Uncharted movie then watch Romancing The Stone.
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 15:12
Thanks, Once seen, it can’t be unseen………….
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 14:33
Great Film. One of those pleasure sucking soul destroying experiences only eclipsed in hopelessness by The Grey. Still, Both great films….leading to manic episodes of depression…But still good.
chimera_85
April 5, 2016 at 14:17
As long as they don’t fuck it up
Darren Peach
April 5, 2016 at 14:30
Yikes…..Ya just doomed it…… 😉
Donald the BananaTrump
April 5, 2016 at 18:56
I’m fine with that. The Warcraft movie is going to suck and every single ATTEMPT at a Hitman, Tomb Raider or Mario movie has been a steaming pile.