When the first trailers for Uncharted dropped, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. People were skeptical. You had the guy who played Spider-Man stepping into the boots of Nathan Drake, and Mark Wahlberg—who was originally supposed to play Drake ten years ago—playing the mentor figure, Sully. It felt like a weird bit of Hollywood musical chairs.
But then the movie came out. It didn't just do okay; it raked in over $407 million worldwide. Suddenly, the "weird" pairing of Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland became one of Sony’s most bankable duos.
Honestly, the chemistry you saw on screen wasn't just good acting. These two had a bizarre, brotherly, and occasionally hilarious relationship off-camera that most people don't actually know the details of. It involved "misunderstood" gifts, a frantic 4-month body transformation, and a very specific mustache.
The Massage Gun Incident That Went Viral
If you want to understand the vibe between these two, you have to look at the "massage gun" story.
💡 You might also like: Why The Expendables 1 Movie Cast Still Hits Different After All These Years
During the press tour, Holland admitted that when he first met Wahlberg in Los Angeles, Mark gave him a ride back to his hotel and gifted him a Power Plate Pulse massage gun. Standard fitness bro behavior, right?
Well, not for Tom.
He’d never seen one before. He genuinely thought Wahlberg was giving him a... well, a "self-pleasure" device. Holland told Access Hollywood that he thought Mark was being "suggestive," and he spent the whole car ride feeling incredibly awkward. Wahlberg, meanwhile, was just trying to help the kid with muscle recovery. He eventually had to go on Instagram to clarify: "It's for muscle recovery, nothing else!"
That's the dynamic. Wahlberg is the seasoned, fitness-obsessed vet. Holland is the energetic, slightly naive younger brother.
✨ Don't miss: I See Fire: Why Ed Sheeran and the Misty Eye of the Mountain Still Give Us Chills
The "Size" Competition That Broke Tom Holland
One of the most impressive things about the Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland partnership was how it physically changed Holland.
When production first started, Tom was coming straight off a Marvel project. He was lean. Agile. A "Spider-Man" build. But then he saw Mark.
"I noticed how much bigger Mark was than myself," Holland admitted in a 2022 interview. "I didn't want to look like his kid; I needed to look like his partner."
When the pandemic shut down filming for five months, Holland didn't just sit around playing video games. He went into a total fitness frenzy. He was eating everything in sight and lifting heavy just to stand next to Wahlberg without looking tiny. By the time they returned to set, he had put on significant muscle. He jokingly said the physical demands of Uncharted actually "broke" him compared to the CGI-heavy work of the MCU.
Why Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland Work
- The Age Gap: There’s a 25-year difference between them. It creates a natural "passing of the torch" energy.
- The Roles: Sully is supposed to be a jerk who eventually cares. Mark plays that "grumpy older brother" perfectly.
- The Stunts: Both actors insisted on doing as much of the physical work as possible, which built a mutual respect.
What’s the Word on Uncharted 2?
This is what everyone is actually searching for right now. Is it happening?
📖 Related: Why Hey Lover by Freddie Jackson Still Owns the Quiet Storm Decades Later
The short answer: Yes. Sony Pictures executive Steven O’Dell confirmed in June 2024 that a sequel is officially in development. Mark Wahlberg even told The Direct and Screen Rant that he’s already been told to "start growing your mustache."
But there’s a catch. Tom Holland is probably the busiest man in Hollywood.
Producer Charles Roven recently mentioned that while the script is being polished, they have to wait for Holland to finish two massive projects:
- The Odyssey (a Christopher Nolan film he’s doing with Zendaya).
- Spider-Man 4 (the next MCU installment).
Because of this, we likely won't see the duo back on screen until 2026 or 2027. But the plan is definitely to lean harder into the game's lore. That means more banter, more globe-trotting, and yes, Wahlberg finally sporting the full-time Sully mustache that was teased in the first film's mid-credits scene.
The Reality of Their Friendship
A lot of celebrity friendships are fake. They're for the cameras.
With Mark and Tom, it feels a bit more authentic because they are so different. Mark is the guy who wakes up at 4:00 AM to pray and hit the gym. Tom is the West End kid who grew up dancing and playing golf.
Wahlberg has called Holland "annoying" in the way a little brother is, but he also praises his focus. You don't get that kind of chemistry by just reading lines. You get it by spending months in a harness, 50 feet in the air, pretending to fall out of a cargo plane.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the journey of Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland, here is what you should actually keep an eye on over the next few months:
- Watch the facial hair: If you see Mark Wahlberg rocking a thick mustache in paparazzi shots, it’s a dead giveaway that Uncharted 2 is finally heading into pre-production.
- Check the Sony Slate: Sony often drops "Untitled Marvel" or "Untitled Action" dates. Keep an eye on the late 2026 calendar.
- Follow the Fitness: Both actors are vocal about their training. Holland’s transition back to a "Drake" build will be a clear signal that the sequel is imminent.
The first movie was an origin story. The next one is where they really get to be Nate and Sully. It took years to get the first one made—literally a decade of development hell—but now that the foundation is there, the ceiling for this duo is incredibly high.