‘Uncharted’: Nolan North Won’t Play Nathan Drake in a Sequel, But Maybe Someone Else
Uncharted has finally arrived in theaters. The adaptation of Naughty Dog’s hit video game franchise didn’t fare so well with critic reviews, but many audiences loved every second of Tom Holland‘s adventure as Nathan Drake. Some fans, including Uncharted voice actor Nolan North, have even started talking about a potential sequel. North already knows who he’d love to play in Uncharted 2.
[Spoiler alert: The following story contains spoilers for the Uncharted movie.]
Nolan North has a brief cameo in the ‘Uncharted’ movie
Fans of the Uncharted video games are treated to a cameo appearance by North in the adaptation, though it’s only for a brief moment.
In the second half of the film, Holland’s Nathan Drake and Sophia Ali’s Chloe Frazer stumble onto a crowded beach after plummeting into the ocean from an intense cargo plane fight scene. While most of the beach’s inhabitants seem to ignore the treasure hunters, one familiar face notices their disheveled appearances.
“Whoa, what the hell happened to you two?” North asks while sitting in a lounge chair.
“Fell out of a car then fell out of a plane,” Holland replies.
“Huh. You know, something like that happened to me once!” North adds. “Good luck!”
Fans might feel disappointed that North’s cameo is so brief, but the scene is just what he wanted. He told Variety that it was important for his cameo to not take away from the movie’s story.
“From what we did, it’s just enough of a nod that everyone goes, ‘Ah, that’s the guy!’ And then we’re right back into the film. I was adamant with them. I didn’t want it to be self-indulgent,” he said. “It’s a quick little thing, and it works for the scheme of the film, and it’s fun.”
Nolan North has an idea for his role in a potential ‘Uncharted’ sequel
Although Sony and PlayStation Productions have yet to announce an Uncharted sequel, two post-credits scenes do set things up for another installment. One shows Nathan Drake’s brother, Sam Drake (Rudy Pankow), alive and imprisoned somewhere. The other shows a meeting between Nate, Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg), and another bad guy.
If Uncharted 2 does happen, North has some ideas for what he’d like to see. He told Variety that some of the video games’ stunning locations would be nice, or Nathan’s primary love interest, Elena Fisher. North might even like to play an even bigger role this time around.
“Maybe someday they find Drake’s long-lost father. I’d be old enough by then,” he explained. “‘You’re the guy from the beach! I’ve been watching you, kid. You’re doing great.'”
‘Uncharted’ has been a highlight of North’s acting career
North voiced Nathan Drake in Uncharted 1 through 4 and the spinoff game Uncharted: Golden Abyss. And though his career has taken him to hundreds of other roles, both in video games and TV, Uncharted remains one of North’s most important projects.
“It gave me a little more financial security as a working actor. Because of Uncharted and its success, I traveled more than I thought I ever would. I continue to travel to conventions or appearances, Barcelona as part of the film,” he said in his interview. “Uncharted is 10 of the best years of my life, when I was with some of the most creative people I’ve ever known.”
Uncharted is now playing in theaters.
