It's real! First look at Tom Holland as Nathan Drake in 'Uncharted' set photo
It's finally happening. The over-decade-long-in-production Uncharted film, based on the video game franchise of the same name, is going full steam ahead with its lead actor, Tom Holland, posting a photo on social media of himself in full Nathan Drake costume.
Holland, who recently starred in the Netflix film The Devil All the Time, is playing a much younger version of the Nathan Drake character from the video games. There's no going around the fact that the 24-year old, who is also our current friendly neighborhood wall-crawler in the Spider-Man Marvel movies, would likely have a hard time portraying a video game character who is in his mid-30s.
Going by the image, it will take a bit of getting used to for some, seeing Holland in the role. Not only is he portraying a younger version of the character, he's already sporting the attire that made Drake a recognizable figure with gamers.
So far, the only "young" portrayal of Drake has been in the fourth game in the franchise, Uncharted 4, courtesy of flashback sequences. Even there, the character was much, much younger – a child. So, Holland's portrayal falls in between those childhood and late adult years that no one has actually seen yet.
From the clothes to the double holsters, Holland has definitely got the look down. He's even got the ring on a necklace that should be the one from Drake's alleged ancestor, Sir Francis Drake.
Confirming even further that Holland isn't just trolling us, the original Nathan Drake voice actor, Nolan North, tweeted out his set visit, posting a photo of himself chatting with the actor along with other images from the set (which suspiciously look like screenshots from the game).
Like looking into a mirror! Proud to have @TomHolland1996 continuing the Drake legacy! Absolutely smashing it!
— Nolan North (@nolan_north) October 22, 2020
Thanks for the set visit!!@unchartedmovie pic.twitter.com/sfiFYUJVyH
North posts, "Like looking into a mirror! Proud to have @TomHolland1996 continuing the Drake legacy! Absolutely smashing it! Thanks for the set visit!! @unchartedmovie."
The long-gestating production of the Uncharted film has seen six directors come and go, with the final one, Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, Venom, Gangster Squad) seeing it through.
Production news for the film has been so long in fact, stretching all the way back to 2008, that some impatient fans have already gone ahead and made an unofficial short film starring Nathan Fillion as Nathan Drake – the actor most agree should have played the part, albeit a much older, mid- to late-40s, version of him.
Barring any more delays – let's face it, no one really knows when this pandemic will end – Uncharted will hit theaters in July, 2021. The film stars Holland, as well as Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Taylor Ali, and Tati Gabrielle.
(Images from Uncharted, Tom Holland and Nolan North social media accounts)