Whether it’s Netflix‘s “The Witcher” or Paramount+‘s “Halo,” it’s safe to say there’s a renaissance going on for videogame adaptations on TV and streaming. If two doesn’t cut it, well, another one is on the way soon: HBO‘s take on the hit game “The Last Of Us.”
Based on Naughty Dog‘s 2013 videogame of the same name, the new series follows Pedro Pascal as Joel, a survivor in the post-apocalyptic US tasked with smuggling a young girl across the country. Why does the girl need to be trafficked? Her immunity to the fungal infection plaguing the world may help create a vaccine for the few humans left.
Here’s an official logline for the series, courtesy of HBO:
THE LAST OF US story takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-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 the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
Alongside Pascal, “The Last Of Us” also stars Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the teen under Joel’s protection. Gabriel Luna plays Tommy, Joel’s brother. In addition, Merle Dandridge, Jeffrey Pierce, and Anna Torv have recurring roles in the series. Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, and Nick Offerman also have guest appearances. Graham Greene, Elaine Miles, Rutina Wesley, and Brad Leland also star.
“The Last Of Us” is a massive undertaking for HBO, the first show on the network based on a videogame. It’s also the most significant Canadian TV production ever, with extensive shooting schedules in Calgary and the surrounding Alberta area. The show stays close to its videogame roots, however. Neil Druckmann, the writer and director of the game, returns to co-write the series with Craig Mazin. Game composer Gustavo Santaolalla also returns to write music for the show.
Will “The Last Of Us” be another smash hit for HBO Max? Audiences find out when the show premieres in 2023. Check out the trailer below.