Mark Wahlberg Is Frontrunner To Play 'Nathan Drake' In Uncharted Film

Transformers: Age of Extinction star Mark Wahlberg was attached to star in the big screen adaptation of the hit PlayStation video game series back when David O. Russell was directing, but we've now learned that he's still very much the frontrunner to play Nathan Drake! Read on for details...

Uncharted has been in development for a number of years now, and the fact that the critically acclaimed video game series still hasn't received the big screen treatment is baffling to say the least. Sony have certainly tried, and a number of writers and directors have been attached at one point or another. The latest is Horrible Bosses helmer Seth Gordon, while franchise fan and Zero Dark Thirty scribe Mark Boal is writing the latest draft of the script. Who will star in the movie?

We've seen an email between Sony execs including Amy Pascal and Jonathin Kadin which reveal that back in June a meeting took place between Gordon and Mark Wahlberg (who was attached to the project a number of years ago) which apparently went very well. They talked in great detail about the version of the script which existed at that time, and the actor was agreeable to shooting Uncharted in early 2015. It's then mentioned that they need a commitment from Mark "soon", and while we can't confirm he's signed on - Chris Pratt was recently mentioned as being approached but declining - the studio are clearly high on the actor and it appears as if Wahlberg was keen to sign on. We're assuming he's playing the lead, but that's not mentioned.

The Pain & Gain star was even shown a "mock trailer" which is said to have blown him away. Again, a lot might have changed in the past six months, but Wahlberg was extremely close to joining the cast at one point and Pratt could have been approached before these talks took place (remember, his possible involvement was only mentioned casually in a report from one of the trades). We also have a couple of very minor details about the production, including the fact that both Australia and Mexico have been looked at for shooting locations. Gordon meanwhile is said to be keen to cut back on green screen, something which should make fans of the action franchise happy.