Why Is There Still No Uncharted 2 Movie After Its Blockbuster Success?

Recently, I’ve been revisiting the Uncharted series after a decade, and it’s clear that these games remain among the finest ever created. As I journey around the world with Nathan Drake on his escapades, I find myself constantly pondering over the long-awaited sequel to the Uncharted 2 movie, often regarded as the best video game adaptation to date.

It’s quite surprising that despite the Tom Holland movie raking in a significant amount of money at the box office in 2022, garnering a moderate positive critical response (we rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars), and offering more entertainment than expected, we haven’t seen another installment or any fresh adventures on the big screen yet. Not even the familiar characters from the games have made an appearance, which is quite unusual. So, what’s holding things up?

The First Uncharted Movie Was A Big Hit, And We Should Have Had A Sequel By Now

In February 2022, not only video game enthusiasts such as myself attended cinemas for the release of Uncharted. The movie adaptation had an outstanding start with $44 million in domestic earnings during its opening weekend. This momentum continued, eventually accumulating a staggering total of $407 million worldwide by the film’s conclusion, according to Box Office Mojo. Given these impressive figures, it would seem reasonable that Sony would be eager to expedite production on a sequel.

Initially, I had assumed that would indeed happen. However, three years have passed, and Uncharted has not appeared on the list of upcoming video game movies. This has left fans of the games (and the potential movie) questioning if the movie’s development is destined to languish in limbo for an extended period, similar to how the first film did many years ago.

I Mean, The Uncharted End-Credits Sequence Perfectly Set Up A Franchise

Uncharted, one of the standout action films from 2022, boasted an impressive ending that cleverly paved the way for a possible series. It wasn’t just my enthusiasm spiking due to Mark Wahlberg’s character, Victor “Sully” Sullivan, sporting the classic mustache; rather, it was because the conclusion echoed elements reminiscent of the video games. In an amusing end-credits scene, Victor rescues Tom Holland’s Nathan Drake, and together they seize a Nazi map. The movie concludes with a colossal cliffhanger, leaving us guessing who managed to capture our heroes in the end.

In the thrilling world of Uncharted, I found myself pondering at the movie’s onset – was this fresh peril we faced, a familiar foe from the gaming universe, or perhaps Nathan’s long-lost brother Sam Drake? Honestly, either scenario promises an exciting ride. As Director Ruben Fleischer hinted to TopMob prior to the film’s premiere, the character initially unveiled in 2016’s Uncharted: A Thief’s End is set to make an appearance at some point. The question of when remains a tantalizing mystery.

But It’s Not All Bad News, As I Just Found Out Sony Started Developing A Sequel In 2024

It’s not clear when we might see a release of Uncharted 2, but it appears that Sony Pictures is indeed working on the project. In June 2024, Variety shared that this was one of the projects being developed by the studio during the CineEurope trade show. At the time, no further details were disclosed, but this update marks a significant step since Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman described Uncharted as a new franchise for the company in February 2022, according to Deadline.

In December 2024, Charles Roven, a renowned producer, shared with Deadline that a script was being developed for a project. However, no specific details about this script were disclosed at the time. As of now, it’s unclear whether the original screenwriters – Rafe Judkins, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway – are working on the script or if Sony is planning to bring in new writers for this project. We’ll just have to keep an eye out for updates in the future.

But It Sounds Like Tom Holland’s Spider-Man And Christopher Nolan Movies Come First

After the intense back-to-back releases of Spider-Man: No Way Home and Uncharted, Tom Holland decided to take a break from acting. However, recent updates suggest that he’s resumed his acting career. In a Deadline interview discussing the Uncharted 2 script, producer Charles Roven hinted at a pause in their plans until Holland finishes working on Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man 4 and Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Odyssey, both scheduled for release in July 2026.

Since both these upcoming films could be the top-grossing movies in 2026, given the abundance of promising movies slated for that year, it’s understandable why Sony is adopting a measured approach with the film Uncharted. However, I anticipate we’ll receive updates on possible release dates, production timelines, and other pertinent information in the approaching months and years.

There Are So Many Action Set Pieces I Would Love To See Recreated On The Big Screen

In the Uncharted movie, there were numerous callbacks and references that fans of the game series would appreciate. However, if one was only familiar with the main four games (excluding the PS Vita spinoffs), they might miss out on some truly memorable scenes that could have made the film even more iconic. For instance, the train sequence in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which surprisingly didn’t appear in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, or the sinking boat scene from Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, or the street chase in Madagascar from Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The potential for additional scenes inspired by these games seems almost endless.

If You Haven’t, Go Back And Play These Games

Despite feeling a bit down about the prolonged wait for the next movie installment of the Uncharted franchise, I must say that I’m thoroughly enjoying my time with these legendary Naughty Dog games. Although the first game in the series isn’t holding up as well over time, the four subsequent mainline games and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy are nothing short of remarkable.

Beyond the thrilling action scenes, what truly sets these games apart are their platforming levels, intriguing puzzles, and compelling character interactions – particularly between Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher. These elements not only elevate them to exceptional adventure games but also create immersive cinematic experiences that challenge the boundaries of narrative storytelling within video games.

In summary, I can’t wait for the release of the Uncharted 2 movie, and I plan to be among the first ones in line during its opening weekend. It might even prompt me to replay the entire series once more when that time arrives.

2025-02-11 00:07