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.

[dmahurin]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Well, that's another massive problem. When they make Ellie as unlikable as they did at parts, who the hell am I even supposed to care about or be invested in then? Abby?

Yes, that was the point, to see both sides

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by dmahurin

Yes, that was the point, to see both sides

Of course that's the point. But where Druckmann failed for a lot of people, including me, is getting us to sympathize or care about or for either perspective. Especially in the case of Ellie, that took some rather remarkably bad writing.

[dmahurin]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Of course that's the point. But where Druckmann failed for a lot of people, including me, is getting us to sympathize or care about or for either perspective. Especially in the case of Ellie, that took some rather remarkably bad writing.

Like I said, it's different for each person. I thought that Ellie acted exactly the way I would expect her to act based on what happened. And after all the time with Abbie and her

Spoiler!

forgiving Ellie twice and letting her live while walking away

didn't get you to sympathize with her, then I don't think any different story point could have.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by dmahurin

Yes, that was the point, to see both sides

agreed. And I didnt have a problem with it as others did.

I felt it was a distinctly unique approach in a video game.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I feel Tommy felt forced and guilty by Joel to do it, like he didn't have a choice. He really didn't want to go but was going to do it for his brother. I assume that changed to the original thought once Joel said I got this. They could've explained that a bit better I guess.

I think at first Tommy felt like he was being forced, but after that emotional talk and when he tells Tommy that Ellie is immune I think he genuinely wants to help, because a vaccine could potentially lead to a ton of positives and he wants his baby to grow up in a better world than he did.

[ThaVirus]

How many episodes will be in season 1?

Spoiler!

I remember from the game that the scientists want to kill Ellie in order to work on the cure

So I'm guessing that's what we're working toward in Utah.. but I feel like we've breezed through this season. In 6ish hours of TV time we've gone from Boston to Kansas City to Wyoming to Colorado. Feels like we could have gotten some meat and potatoes from that journey.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

How many episodes will be in season 1?

Spoiler!

I remember from the game that the scientists want to kill Ellie in order to work on the cure

So I'm guessing that's what we're working toward in Utah.. but I feel like we've breezed through this season. In 6ish hours of TV time we've gone from Boston to Kansas City to Wyoming to Colorado. Feels like we could have gotten some meat and potatoes from that journey.

There are 9 episodes in Season 1.

I would assume that with Joel being hurt that

Spoiler!

David is going to be up next

but I could be wrong I guess. They could just jump to the end...but my guess is your spoiler is the very end of the season.

[BigBeauford]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

There are 9 episodes in Season 1.

I would assume that with Joel being hurt that

Spoiler!

David is going to be up next

but I could be wrong I guess. They could just jump to the end...but my guess is your spoiler is the very end of the season.

I'm pretty sure on a trailer at some point we see

Spoiler!

the David scene

so I imagine it's next.

[Sassy Squatch]

Think it's
7. DLC
8. Winter
9. SLC

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

How many episodes will be in season 1?

Spoiler!

I remember from the game that the scientists want to kill Ellie in order to work on the cure

So I'm guessing that's what we're working toward in Utah.. but I feel like we've breezed through this season. In 6ish hours of TV time we've gone from Boston to Kansas City to Wyoming to Colorado. Feels like we could have gotten some meat and potatoes from that journey.

That's kind of how it was in the game to be fair. Spent about a quarter of the game in Pittsburgh and then bam, cut to black and it's Fall and we're in Wyoming. That's another reason why I actually like the change to KC. Makes sense they drove that far and then the last leg of the journey is on foot. How they got from Pittsburgh to Jackson on foot always made me chuckle a bit.

[BigBeauford]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Think it's
7. DLC
8. Winter
9. SLC

Yeah, buddy just told me next episode is probably all DLC. Which sucks.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

I think at first Tommy felt like he was being forced, but after that emotional talk and when he tells Tommy that Ellie is immune I think he genuinely wants to help, because a vaccine could potentially lead to a ton of positives and he wants his baby to grow up in a better world than he did.

Definitely could see that as well. I can't recall how the game went with that conversation or if there was one in full to even try to go along

[dmahurin]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

Yeah, buddy just told me next episode is probably all DLC. Which sucks.

Why? The DLC story is great. It is needed to set up Ellie's backstory and motivations even more.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by dmahurin

Why? The DLC story is great. It is needed to set up Ellie's backstory and motivations even more.

Exactly.

[Stryker]

I just bought The Last of Us on PS5 today since it was on sale for $49.99. I first played the game on PS3 so stoked to play the PS5 version. My PS5 is attached to an LG OLED so should be an incredible experience once again but MUCH better.