We sure are. The Last Of Us The TV Show is premiering this weekend and we couldn’t be more excited. Why? Well, because this is the second Naughty Dog adaptation that we get to write about. After the Uncharted film adaptation. We have a whole article about it, which you can check out here.
Next, there’s the game in question. Yes, you can also pre-order The Last Of Us Part 1 here at IndieGala. It will arrive here at IndieGala on March 3rd so you have plenty of time. Do it here.
And finally, we love a good two-parter article, which is why we’re turning this into one. This particular article will entail interesting details about the game and the TV show itself. Fun facts, production details, and everything that should get you hyped about it. We’ll leave the second one for after the TV show airs. And we’ll make sure you’ll know all about our thoughts and impressions. Don’t you worry.
Last but certainly, not least… We already wrote about Pedro Pascal. The man who’ll embody the role of Joel in the upcoming TV show. You can check out that article here as well.
But wait. First things first. We definitely need to mention the game that inspired the TV series.
Before The The Last Of Us TV Show Was The Last Of Us The Game
So, with that in mind… What’s the game all about you might ask?
Developed by Naughty Dog LLC and published by PlayStation PC LLC, The Last Of Us Part 1 allows you to experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us™. A winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards.
In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey.
The game also includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind. Which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
But Part 1 is also a remake of the 2013 game The Last of Us, it features revised gameplay, including enhanced combat and exploration, and expanded accessibility options.
As we mentioned earlier in this article. The game is available for pre-purchase here at IndieGala. Check it out.
But What About The Last Of Us TV Show?
You’ll be happy to know that it’s getting rave reviews. Yes, indeed. Produced by HBO, The Last Of Us TV Show is currently enjoying 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics even called it the best video game adaptation ever. Which is kinda weird, because in most cases the words best and video game adaptation don’t really go together in one sentence. Years and years of disappointment and heartbreak can attest to that. But this success has been brewing for quite some time. Actually, since 2014 when the first notion of The Last Of Us adaptation was mentioned. Yes, in 2014, a film version of The Last of Us was optioned by Screen Gems. A Sony subsidiary that the company described, diplomatically, as geared toward making “a particular kind of movie.” Buuuut… After years in development hell, Screen Gems relinquished the rights.
Which is where HBO stepped in. HBO greenlit the series on November 20, and the rest is history. After the success of TV shows like True Detective, Chernobyl and Mare of Easttown, HBO decided to gamble once more. However, this time they needed the right team.
What’s Different About The Last Of Us TV Show?
From any other (horrible) video game adaptation if you will. Well, something that the fans of video games have been begging Hollywood to consider. Most of the showrunners, writers and directors don’t respect the source material and instead give us a watered-down version of the original project. Uwe Boll being the biggest offender of this, but there are plenty more like him. However, when you have Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Nick Druckmann (the creator of the original video game) teaming up to bring the HBO show to life…. You just know it’s gotta be at least good.
Set in the year 2033, two decades after a fungal virus transformed the global population into raging monsters, the show follows survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal). The lonely and damaged man who guides teenager Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the wasteland to doctors with the intention of finding a cure. For which Ellie may hold the genetic key. Gabriel Luna, Anna Torv, Storm Reid, Melanie Lynskey, Lamar Johnson, Graham Greene, Murray Bartlett, and Nick Offerman round out the cast here and yes. We are hopeful that the early reviews are true.
Great Actors, Even Greater Praise?
Well, kinda. Special praise has been universally directed at Ramsey’s performance as Ellie. Her apparent “stratospheric” commitment to the role, results in her “stealing every scene she is in,” according to the BBC. Pedro Pascal delivers another stellar performance (per usual). But the TV show has surprisingly rich performances from the one and only Nick Offerman. And even a surprise appearance of Aussie White Lotus star Murray Bartlett. So, what’s not to like?
Well, we have plenty of great stuff to tell ya before the premiere. You can count on awesome writing, production design, and score too.
But hey. Did you know that Pascal based Joel’s voice on his own experiences growing up in San Antonio, Texas. Yeah, that’s where that southern accent comes from actually. And how about Bella Ramsey? More than 100 actors had been considered for Ellie. Indeed, the producers sought a performer who could portray a resourceful, quirky, and potentially violent character. After watching Ramsey’s audition tape, they reached out to David Benioff and D.B. Weiss—showrunners of Game of Thrones, in which Ramsey had starred. They assured them of her talent, and she secured the role less than a month after her audition.
Massive Production And A Massive Budget?
It really has. Several sources suggest the budget is between US$10 million and US$15 million per episode. And some even claim it exceeded the first five seasons of Game of Thrones., which is cool. The first season covers the events of the first game and its downloadable expansion The Last of Us: Left Behind (2014). But Druckmann and Mazin suggested a second season would immediately cover the sequel, The Last of Us Part II (2020), to avoid filler. And did you know that the production team includes five art directors and hundreds of technicians. Oh yeah. The game’s art director, concept artists, and environment artists provided feedback on the costumes and sets and the production was wild too. A 115-person team that found and transformed more than 180 locations. Mostly in several locations in Canada, which is great.
Merle Dandridge will reprise her role as Marlene from the games. Oh, and Ashley Johnson, who played Ellie Williams in both games, will play the new character Anna in the series. And Jeffrey Pierce who played Joel’s brother, Tommy, in both video games will play a new character, Perry, in the series.
More Cool Facts About The Last Of Us TV Show:
Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Jon Bernthal, Gerard Butler, Josh Brolin, Jon Hamm, David Harbour, Keanu Reeves, Chris Hemsworth, Harrison Ford, Tom Hardy, and Joel Edgerton were considered for the role of Joel Miller. You know before Pedro Pascal was cast.
Dafne Keen, Kaitlyn Dever, Maisie Williams, Thomasin McKenzie, Eliza Scanlen, Izabela Vidovic, Bailee Madison, Elle Fanning, Julia Butters, and Mckenna Grace were considered for the role of Ellie Williams before Bella Ramsey was cast.
The song “Alone and Forsaken” by Hank Williams used in the teaser is the same song featured in the first game when Joel and Ellie are driving into Pittsburgh.
So… That Leaves Us With The Question.
Are You Hyped About The Last Of Us TV Show?
We sure are. Let us know about your expectations.
