Mark Wahlberg is no stranger to starring in movies based on video games -- he played the title role in the 2008 adaptation of the first-person shooter game "Max Payne." And he's also quite comfortable to working with writer-director David O. Russell -- they've collaborated together on "Three Kings," "I Heart Huckabees" and this year's Oscar hopeful "The Fighter," about boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward.
So it makes perfect sense that Wahlberg is now set to tackle the lead role of adventurer Nathan Drake in "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune," the hot-ticket video-game adaptation that Russell is writing and directing. Wahlberg -- who was recently named one of MTV's actors we're most thankful for in 2010 -- confirmed as much when we caught up with him at the junket for "The Fighter."
"David is one of the best writer/directors I've ever worked with," Wahlberg told MTV. "The idea that he has is just insane. So hopefully we'll be making that movie this summer."
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Walhberg also confirmed rumors that Russell is writing roles for acting heavies (and "Goodfellas" costars) Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. "I'm obviously in whatever David wants to do, but the idea of it is so off the charts: De Niro being my father, Pesci being my uncle. It's not going to be the watered-down version, that's for sure."
While Pesci and De Niro have yet to commit to the film, Wahlberg says that he has talked to Pesci about the role, and that De Niro has also been contacted. Sure, Drake's dad and uncle don't appear in the game, but we're betting they'll be there to shed some light on the Drake family's supposed relation to renowned explorer Sir Francis Drake.
For the uninitiated, "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" charts the globetrotting adventurer's search for the treasure of El Dorado. Sounds like box-office gold.
Is Walhberg the right man to play Nathan Drake in "Uncharted"? And are you psyched that Pesci and De Niro might join the cast? Tell us in the comments!
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