HBO - The Last of Us

[Sure-Oz]

@HBO: Look for the light.

@clmazin and @Neil_Druckmann to develop the series adaptation of #TheLastOfUs, coming soon to HBO: http://itsh.bo/thelastofus https://twitter.com/HBO/status/12356...572032/video/1

The Last of Us' Series in the Works at HBO From 'Chernobyl' Creator Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann (Exclusive)

MARCH 05, 2020 9:30AMby*Borys Kit, Patrick Shanley

Craig Mazin, the creator of the acclaimed limited series*Chernobyl,*is reteaming with HBO adapt*The Last of Us, the massive Sony PlayStation video game franchise.
In a rare development in the world of video game adaptations, the writer and creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann, is also involved, and will work with Mazin to pen and executive produce what is intended to be a series.

Carolyn Strauss will also executive produce along with Evan Wells, the president of Naughty Dog, the Santa Monica-based developer of the game. The project is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and in association with PlayStation Productions and it will be the first television series from PlayStation Productions.
Originally launched in 2013, Sony and Naughty Dog’s*The Last of Us*garnered critical praise for its engrossing tale of the post-apocalypse centered on the relationship between Joel, a smuggler in this new world, and Ellie, a teenager who may be a key to a cure for the deadly pandemic.
Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle the14-year-old girl out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the U.S. and depend on each other for survival. The HBO series will cover the events of the original game, which was written by Druckmann, with the possibility of additional content based on the forthcoming game sequel,*The Last of Us Part II, which will release on May 29, 2020.
Mazin, who is said to be an avid player of the game, stated, “Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and*The Last of Us*is his magnum opus. Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I’m so honored to do it in partnership with Neil.”
“From the first time I sat down to talk with Craig I was equally blown away by his approach to narrative and his love and deep understanding of*The Last of Us,” said Druckmann in a statement. “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.”
Last of Us*won numerous “game of the year” awards and went on to sell more than 17 million copies across both its original release on the PlayStation 3 and a remastered version on the PlayStation 4.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for us to partner with Craig, Neil, Carolyn and the teams at Sony, Naughty Dog and PlayStation to bring the virtual world of this acclaimed game to life,” stated HBO programming president Casey Bloys.
“This is the first of many shows we intend to develop with our friends at PlayStation Productions,” said Chris Parnell, co-president of Sony Pictures Television Studios.*The Last of Us*is a brilliant achievement in storytelling and character development, and we are lucky to have the opportunity to work with this team to adapt it.”
Druckmann is a longtime vet of Naughty Dog, starting as a programming intern in 2004. In 2007, he was given the role of game designer on*Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the first installment in the action adventure series. In 2013, he created*The Last of Us, based on a concept he developed as a student at Carnegie Mellon University.
Mazin’s*Chernobyl*tackled a bleak and complex true-life event and became a must-see show for HBO. The show won an Emmy for outstanding limited series and landed one for Mazin for outstanding writing. Mazin also won a PGA and a WGA Award.


Holy shit this is gonna be awesome.

[The Franchise]

He doesn’t want Ellie to have a gun because he doesn’t trust her. And lugging around all of that ammo would slow them down. They’re only going to go as far as the S10 will take them.

[rydogg58]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

They aren't just going to load up all of the guns into the back of an S10. It's the apocalypse. Take what you need and move on.

Exactly. Joel knows he's traveling with someone who has probably never shot a gun enough in her life for her to be of any use in a firefight. It's just him. He knows he's not going to stand a chance in a shootout with multiple people. The best chance to survive is to travel light and avoid confrontations. Carrying a bunch of guns that do him no good will only slow them down.

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by mkp785

Fair enough, but at least load up on ammo. That's why he had to get rid of his whatever bigger gun from earlier (gun guys on here can fill in what that was). Really they'd need a couple of handguns, something to hunt with, something bigger and nasty that could maybe be fired from the truck, a sniper rifle......and a ton of ammo. The gas should be also packed as much as can be safely taken.

I did play the game and other games like Fallout that are similar to this one so I probably am thinking about this video game wise. Obviously in real life a human just can't carry all that stuff. Ammo seems like an obvious one along with a gun for Elie.

It was a M16 he left behind, basically the select fire military version of the domestic AR15 rifle you hear about all the time. It fires a 5.56mm/.223 caliber which is the most common and most abundant round currently, would easily be found in a post apocalyptic environment. Which is confusing for why he would leave it. You do eventually acquire said rifle in the game so maybe leaving it behind stayed true to the script.

[Sassy Squatch]

A bit annoying since BWillie had to be a creepy **** and make it about her appearance, but I'm starting to not care for Bella Ramsey as Ellie. I don't know if it's her fault or the directors or whoever, but this version of Ellie is pretty unlikeable in comparison to the game version.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

A bit annoying since BWillie had to be a creepy **** and make it about her appearance, but I'm starting to not care for Bella Ramsey as Ellie. I don't know if it's her fault or the directors or whoever, but this version of Ellie is pretty unlikeable in comparison to the game version.

I like both her and Pedro Pascal....but not as Ellie and Joel. It's just my opinion though.

Maybe it's because I can't remove them from prior roles, so I'm constantly seeing The Mandalorian and Game of Thrones or what. It doesn't mean that the show isn't great though.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

A bit annoying since BWillie had to be a creepy **** and make it about her appearance, but I'm starting to not care for Bella Ramsey as Ellie. I don't know if it's her fault or the directors or whoever, but this version of Ellie is pretty unlikeable in comparison to the game version.

Yeah its creepy to point out that a 19 year old is indeed ugly.

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by SuperChief

You're not wrong. It's already one of the best things currently on TV. There's some really great stuff on right now:

Succession
TLOU
Barry
White Lotus
Reservation Dogs

I'm sure I'm missing a bunch, but those are S-tier for me right now.

I've watched all of those and completely agree that you've nailed the top tier.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Yeah its creepy to point out that a 19 year old is indeed ugly.

No, but it's incredibly creepy to hyperfixate on the appearance of a fictional 14 year old girl.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

No, but it's incredibly creepy to hyperfixate on the appearance of a fictional 14 year old girl.

If Mcauley Caulkin was as ugly as he is now he wouldn't have gotten the Home Alone role.

I know. Creepy.

[Sassy Squatch]

Whatever you say, BLoli

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

I've watched all of those and completely agree that you've nailed the top tier.

There's only been 1 season so far, but Severance on Apple TV is up there for me too.

Same with HOTD.

Euphoria is great too.

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by staylor26

There's only been 1 season so far, but Severance on Apple TV is up there for me too.

Same with HOTD.

Euphoria is great too.

Funny. I was close to mentioning Severance in my response but it didn’t quite clear the bar to be on the level of those shows.

The finale was definitely as good as anything on TV though and if the second season hums along from that it’s definitely in that top tier.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

Funny. I was close to mentioning Severance in my response but it didn’t quite clear the bar to be on the level of those shows.

The finale was definitely as good as anything on TV though and if the second season hums along from that it’s definitely in that top tier.

The finale was ****ing phenomenal. It's the kind of rare instance that a finale exceeds already high expectations.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by mkp785

I did play the game and other games like Fallout that are similar to this one so I probably am thinking about this video game wise. Obviously in real life a human just can't carry all that stuff. Ammo seems like an obvious one along with a gun for Elie.

Yeah, I mean from a realistic standpoint, it's one dude traveling cross country with a 12 year old girl. You're not going to make it from Massachusetts to Wyoming in a car in the apocalypse. Every major roadway would be completely impassable and detours would probably be logjammed/blocked off by raiders as well. He's not going to give the little girl a gun and she isn't a pack mule.

Joel has survived 20 years in this anyway and he didn't do it by playing Rambo.

Also, from a storytelling standpoint, having them load up on guns and ammo in a survival horror plot takes a lot of the tension out of the experience.

My best comparison for any video gamers is the difference between the earlier Resident Evil games and the later ones. The early ones were straight survival horror. Ammo was scarce, you had to spend as much time simply running away as you did shooting and that made it way more intense. By the time they got to Resident Evil 5 and beyond, you're basically superhuman with an arsenal of guns and it turned into an action game. Those games had very little tension or dread anymore.

[Mr. Plow]

Finally got around to watching episode 3 last night. Really enjoyed it. I could have done without the bed scene which I guess makes me a homophobe, but overall really good episode.