The Last Of Us is becoming a TV show! Not only that, but it’s got the game’s Director, Neil Drukmann, working on the project, and the creator of the phenomenal show Chernobyl, Craig Mazin. These talents will be working on the story for the TV adaptation, and that in itself should save it from being a garbage version of a superb game. If you need a reminder of why The Last Of Us is great, check out the game’s trailer.
The series is being produced by Carolyn Strauss, who produced both Game of Thrones and Chernobyl, as well as Evan Wells, President of Naughty Dog. the series will be a co-production feature between PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures Television. In fact, this will be the first series under the PlayStation Productions banner.
The Last Of Us is an incredibly personal story. It shows the connection between two people who would never have met under normal circumstances in a world that is very different from our own. The game is ripe for the right kind of TV adaptation, but those working on it need to be aware that too much action will ruin it. The Last Of Us is as much about the world around the characters as it is about the characters themselves. Joel and Ellie will be explored through their actions, but I hope that there isn’t too much backstory thrown in. Part of the joy of playing this game was understanding the people that Joel and Ellie are, not who they used to be.
With the game’s writer working on the TV series, I think it’s in safe hands. Making a story for a game is very different to making a story for a TV series, the audiences are vastly different. Gamers are active in their participation of a story, but TV audiences are passive, they just watch along. However, there still needs to be enough to keep viewers interested, otherwise they’ll switch off and ignore what’s happening. Striking this balance won’t be easy, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s this team with this IP. We’ll keep you updated on all the details as they develop.
