With any long-gestating studio project, it’s not strange to see a handful of rumors about possible directors. What makes Sony’s long-gestating “Uncharted” adaptation special, however, is how many of them have been confirmed. Since David O. Russell was first attached to direct the film in 2010, Sony has announced the hiring – and the subsequent departure – of Neil Burger, Seth Gordon, Shawn Levy, and Travis Knight. At this point, are you even taken seriously as a director in Hollywood if you haven’t been asked to direct “Uncharted”?
READ MORE: Travis Knight Leaves “Uncharted” Due To Scheduling Conflicts
Well, now you can add Ruben Fleischer‘s name to the list. According to The Wrap, the “Venom” and “Zombieland: Double Tap” director is atop Sony’s current shortlist for directors to replace Knight, who left the project at the end of December due to scheduling conflicts. Fleischer makes a lot of sense for the studio; there was a healthy amount of skepticism regarding both “Venom” and 2019’s “Zombieland” sequel, but both movies performed well at the box office. That probably makes Fleischer Sony’s IP Whisperer, someone who can muscle a fatiguing project into theaters without fear of backlash.
READ MORE: Mark Wahlberg Joins the Cast of Sony’s “Uncharted”
Is the demand still high for an “Uncharted” movie? It’s hard to say. Even if the film were to rush into production and hit theaters in 2022, the most recent Nathan Drake-led “Uncharted” game would be six-plus years old at that point. Given the mediocre track record for big-budget video game adaptations at the box office – “Tomb Raider,” as helpful a comp as any, grossed only $58.25 million domestically against a $94 million budget – Sony might just be trying to wring whatever value out of the property it can. Tom Holland‘s commitment to the project and Mark Wahlberg‘s reliability at the box office are points in the film’s favor. Still, there’s no denying that “Uncharted” is going to have to overcome a healthy amount of audience skepticism, no matter who directs it.