Amy Hennig Revealed Why Uncharted Couldn’t Have a Female Lead That’s Nothing to Do With ‘Anti-Woke’

The Uncharted series is one of gaming’s most iconic franchises, and Amy Hennig has been at the helm of this success. For a franchise that would become similar to Tomb Raider at the time, the decision to make Nathan Drake the protagonist wasn’t random. It was a choice shaped by the industry’s dynamics and cultural influences.

As the creative mind behind the iconic game, Hennig explained why the lead character couldn’t be female. And it’s not what many might assume. The decision had nothing to do with avoiding controversy or being “anti-woke.” It was simply to not be a “Dude Raider.”

Amy Hennig Was Always Thinking 2 Steps Ahead

During Uncharted‘s development, comparisons to Tomb Raider were inevitable. Hennig and her team wanted to carve out their unique space in the adventure genre, avoiding the perception of simply replicating Lara Croft’s legacy and success. Speaking to Games Beat in an interview, she said,

No. It was nothing we could even consider, because Tomb Raider was a thing. So we deliberately chose to have a guy, not a woman, because it would feel like we were invading that territory.

Instead of competing directly, Uncharted redefined the genre with a more relatable hero to blend the charm of Indiana Jones with a touch of vulnerability.

She was this aspirational, acrobatic, James Bond character, so we made ours a little hapless, a little clumsy, more like Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones. Right at the limit of his ability a lot of the time. On his heels.

This choice also reflected the shifting portrayal of masculinity in media. Nathan Drake stood apart from hyper-masculine action heroes by being fallible and self-aware.

While Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft embodied an aspirational, almost superhuman figure, Drake was designed to be someone who often stumbled his way through predicaments.

His simplistic qualities, combined with Amy Hennig’s meticulous storytelling, made him both endearing and memorable. His casual demeanor and reluctant heroism were key to making Uncharted stand out in a saturated market full of competitors.

In a Way, Nathan Drake Became Her Answer To Lara Croft

Hennig’s creative journey was shaped by her past experiences. Before joining Naughty Dog, she worked at Crystal Dynamics, where she aspired to create an adventure series with a strong female protagonist.

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In many ways, Uncharted was her answer to being denied the chance to work on Tomb Raider, creating a dialogue between the two franchises. Despite the success of Uncharted, Hennig acknowledged the challenges of leaving the series behind after her departure from Naughty Dog.

When you live with these characters… They feel like children or something. It’s very hard… it’s like if you split up with your spouse and they have the kids. You wish them well… It was hard for a while, because there was something distant about it for me.

Hennig’s legacy extends beyond Nathan Drake or even Uncharted. Her work laid the foundation for deeper, more cinematic experiences in games. And because of her, we know today that complex characters and rich stories can coexist with blockbuster action.

Had Hennig’s original ambition to work on Tomb Raider succeeded, the gaming industry might never have experienced Uncharted. Just think of how crazy that sounds.

Hennig’s work underscores the importance of thoughtful storytelling and character development in gaming, regardless of gender.

Today, she is working on the upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra set to release in 2025. She is also working on an undisclosed Star Wars project.