The first trailer for Sony's Uncharted movie has finally dropped, giving fans a first look into how the popular videogame franchise has been adapted to the big screen. Starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, Uncharted aims to adapt the franchise's main characters into an all-new origin story while keeping with the classic action-packed treasure hunts fans love.
And while not directly following the plotline of any of the games, there's still a ton of hints and references to the franchise scattered all throughout.
The Uncharted Trailer Spotlights Nathan Drake, Victor Sullivan & Chloe Frazer
Protagonist Nathan Drake makes his first movie appearance, portrayed by Spider-Man actor Tom Holland. The first noticeable change is the clear age difference between Drake in the games and this new Drake. Sony has previously stated that this is meant to be Nathan at the very start of his adventuring days, unlike the Nathan met at the beginning of the first Uncharted game. While this may be jarring to some fans, glimpses of Nathan's origin are seen in Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, which Tom Holland's version seems to stick much closer to. And it appears the character's usual sarcastic and charismatic personality has carried over as well, along with plenty of long detailed descriptions of history that fans have come to expect.
Nathan's partner-in-crime, Victor Sullivan, also makes an appearance, played by Mark Wahlberg. This portrayal is arguably more jarring than Nathan's, as Sully is usually depicted as much older with grey hair and a mustache. However, the character seems to be similar. With his contacts and expertise paired with Nathan's history knowledge and athleticism, the duo appears to be working together exactly like in the games.
Another familiar face makes an appearance too. Sophia Ali plays the character of Chloe Frazer, who first appeared in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Though not seen much in the trailer, it seems she'll be playing the same role of aiding Nathan on his adventure.
Familiar Treasures Make An Appearance in the Uncharted Trailer
Throughout the trailer, Nathan wears some recognizable outfits, from his tanned shirt and pants to his fancy black suit. Included is his iconic ring worn around his neck, bearing all the same markings. In the Uncharted games, the ring is said to be passed down from Nathan's ancestor Francis Drake, with an inscription reading "Sic Parvis Magna," meaning "Greatness From Small Beginnings," which sounds fitting for the film.
Midway through the trailer, a golden cross with red gems is seen in a display case. While not identical to the game, the treasure and setting are reminiscent to a level in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, where Nathan and Sully are dressed in suits at an auction, trying to steal a wooden crucifix. It's also where Nathan bumps into the game's villain, which also seems to be the case within the film.
Uncharted Delivers Recognizable Set Pieces
A frequent scene in the trailer is Nathan Drake trying to stay on a large aircraft flying over an ocean; all while baddies try to fight him off. This is a clear reference to a popular set piece in Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, where Nathan is hanging onto the cargo of an airplane flying over a desert. Almost everything in the trailer scene seems to resemble the game, even down to Nathan's outfit. However, Uncharted 3 ends the scene with Nathan parachuting away from the crashing plane, whereas he's hurdling into the ocean here.
The trailer also gives glimpses of a large ship lodged inside a cave. Though the movie has yet to mention Captain Avery, it looks incredibly similar to the pirate captain's ship and location, which takes place in the final act of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
The Trails Hints at Treasure Hunting and Puzzles
While the Uncharted Games hold a lot of action, what helps set them apart from other games are the treasure hunts and puzzles. Within the trailer, Nathan Drake goes over numerous maps talking about Ferdinand Magellan, a real-life historical figure. Magellan was a 1400s sailor and explorer who transported a lot of cargo, including large amounts of gold. It seems this gold is what Nathan and Sully will be after, though it's not known how closely the movie will be sticking to the real-life events.
Another shot in the trailer shows Nathan interacting with some old-looking furniture, and as he turns a key, an arrow shoots out the top. This hints at the return of classic Uncharted puzzles and helps set the tone for those unfamiliar with the games, as it feels close to the Indiana Jones movies, something the games were inspired by.
Uncharted Hints at Key Missing Characters
Though not seen in the trailer or knowingly cast in the movie yet, Sully references Nathan's brother Sam Drake. In the games, Sam has been out of Nathan's life for a long time and isn't seen until Nathan's final adventure in Uncharted 4. While it's unknown how early the character will appear in the new movie franchise, he's definitely been mentioned sooner than in the games.
However, there's one major game character who's had zero mention as of yet, and that's reporter Elena Fisher. Elena starts off teaming with Nathan at the beginning of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and ends the franchise as Nathan's wife in Uncharted 4. While she is one of the most prevalent characters in the franchise, it makes sense that she is not in the movie, as Nathan is still very much in his youth. But who knows, she could still make a surprise appearance somewhere.
Uncharted releases exclusively in theatres on Feb. 18, 2022.