HBO is developing a TV series based on «The Last of Us»
The head developer of the hit zombie games for the Playstation and the maker of «Chernobyl» are teaming up to make an HBO series of «The Last of Us». Broadcast dates have not yet been released.
This is certainly great news for fans of the iconic game «The Last of Us». Last Thursday, it was announced that HBO is working together with Sony Pictures Television on a series adaptation. This gives us two things to be excited about, just a few months before «The Last of Us 2» is released.
Neil Druckmann, the head developer of «The Last of Us», is in charge of bringing the series to TV, together with Craig Mazin, the creative brain behind the «Chernobyl» miniseries. Mazin expressed his great appreciation for Druckmann in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:
Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and «The Last of Us»› is his magnus opus. Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years.
Source: Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia
Mazin and Druckmann seem to share their respect for each other. Druckmann expressed his thoughts as follows, also during a Hollywood Reporter interview:
With «Chernobyl», Craig and HBO created a tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece. I couldn't think of better partners to bring the story of «The Last of Us» to life as a television show.
Evan Wells joins the project as the producer. He is the President of Naughty Dog, the studio behind the Playstation game.
The story of the game as inspiration
Currently, not much is known about the series yet. The storyline is expected to follow the first installment. With the launch of the sequel on 29 May, some of the content of the sequel may be included into the series.
The Co-president of Sony Pictures Television added that «The Last of Us» will not be the company’s last series adaptation. It’s one of many TV shows the production company wishes to develop together with Playstation.
No further details were shared on the future of the planned «The Last of Us» film. Druckmann has criticised the project multiple times over the years. It’s been stuck in «development hell» for ages now. In 2018, Druckmann clearly stated that he would be happy not to see the film realised.
Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.