HBO's The Last Of Us: 5 Things We Know About The Series (& 5 Questions We Still Have)
Lauded as one of the best video games of all time, The Last Of Us fans got their wish twofold last year. Not only did The Last Of Us Part II finally make its debut, but HBO announced that it was developing a series based on the epic dystopian franchise.
Months passed in eager anticipation of information about the cast and plot. Series creators dropped teasing hints here and there, but nothing has caused more buzz than the official announcements of the actors chosen to play Joel Miller and Ellie Williams. Controversy abounds amidst the recent news, but fans still have many questions about the upcoming series.
10 What We Know: Neil Druckmann & Craig Mazin Will Head The Show
There is always the same worry when it comes to a popular franchise of any kind being adapted to television or film. Die-hard fans want to know how much of it will change, and if the vision of the original will be honored. Thankfully, HBO's The Last Of Us will likely not have that problem.
The series is being developed and headed as a team by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. Druckmann is the original writer and director of both games, and Mazin both created and wrote the hit mini-series, Chernobyl. Talented professionals brilliant in their own fields, this team-up seems like a wise decision that will result in not only a great show, but one that respects the original story.
9 Question We Still Have: How Much Of The Franchise Will It Cover?
There has been much speculation on how much of the franchise the series will cover, and when exactly it will take place. Some rumors claimed that the series would exclusively deal with the gap between the first and the second game, while others claimed that it would start earlier than the first game.
According to the IMDb summary and interviews with showrunners Druckmann and Mazin, it is far more likely that the series will focus around the first game with the possibility for it to continue the story in future seasons. Dependent on its success, this leaves the options open for covering the missing years between the two games, and also for it to eventually adapt The Last Of Us Part II.
8 What We Know: Pedro Pascal Has Been Cast As Joel
Once a loving, single father, 20 years after a horrific outbreak that stole his only daughter from him, Joel has become a cold, hardened smuggler with little concern for anything but his work. His life changes when he realizes that his next cargo is a young girl who just might be the key to saving the world and to healing some of the hurt in his heart.
Beloved for his work as the stoic Din Djarin in The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal is no stranger to playing reluctant father figures. Whether he is bonding with Grogu, or feeling undeserving of his son's love as Maxwell Lord, Pascal has clearly found a niche, and he does it well.
7 Question We Still Have: Will It Explore Joel's Past?
Naughty Dog's The Last Of Us begins with an outbreak that shocks the United States and culminates in the death of Joel's daughter. It immediately jumps to 20 years later and leaves what happened during that decades-long gap only hinted at through the story and a few vague lines from Tommy.
The series has a unique opportunity to delve deeper into some of the history that is skimmed over. It could show more of Joel's life with Sarah, his grief over her death, and flashbacks to some of the violence and criminal activity that Joel was a part of after the outbreak.
6 What We Know: Bella Ramsey Has Been Cast As Ellie
Bella Ramsey has only been acting professionally since 2016, but she has consistently impressed since her debut role in Game Of Thrones. A fierce, intelligent, and passionate leader, Ramsey showed maturity and acting ability beyond her years in her role as Lady Lyanna Mormont.
There has been controversy surrounding her casting because some fans believe that she doesn't look enough like the character from the games, but after her epic death in Game Of Thrones, there is little doubt that her acting and ability to take on intense combat scenes will fall short.
5 Question We Still Have: Will It Show The Events Of Left Behind?
Just like there is much to explore when it comes to Joel's complicated history, there is also so much of Ellie's past that is never shown in the first game. Originally released in 2013, The Last Of Us purposely left some details hazy, but players finally got a slightly more in-depth look at Ellie's history with the 2014 expansion pack titled, The Last Of Us: Left Behind.
The show has the opportunity to show Ellie's past with Marlene and Riley and the events that led up to her being bitten, rather than leaving them solely as spoken dialogue.
4 What We Know: Other Side Characters Have Been Announced
Though there have only been official announcements for the casting of Joel and Ellie, other characters have been confirmed to appear in the show. Neil Druckmann teased a few of them on International Women's Day in 2020 in a tweet that promised the inclusion of Tess, Marlene, Maria, and Riley.
Though there is yet to be confirmation, it is also expected that characters from the first game featured in the show will include Bill, Henry, Sam, and David.
3 Question We Still Have: How Much Will The Characters And Story Change?
Fans were concerned when comments were made about the series potentially changing things from the game in order to enhance the story. Shortly after the casting announcement, Troy Baker also jumped on board to voice his approval, saying that he could not wait to see what he learned about Joel from Pedro. Some fans interpreted this to mean that Joel would be different.
Co-creator Craig Mazin elaborated on the rumors early on in development. "In this case, I’m doing it with [Neil Druckmann], and so the changes that we're making are designed to fill things out and expand, not to undo, but rather to enhance." Mazin's full quote seems to debunk the theory that there will be extravagant changes, but there is still no telling exactly what "enhancements" are being made or how fans will react to them.
2 What We Know: They Will Not Retcon The LGBTQ+ Representation
The Last Of Us has been both praised and criticized for its open LGBTQ+ representation. In the first game, Ellie and Joel meet a hermit living in a ghost town named Bill. Though he isn't a major character, it did skim over his sexuality, the existence of a romantic partner, and some magazines that Ellie finds at his place, all implying that he is a gay man.
The Last Of Us Part II was much more obvious, confirming Ellie's sexuality and including her girlfriend, Dina, as a main character. Craig Mazin assured fans via Twitter that the LGBTQ+ representation set forth in the games would not be erased, jokingly encouraging them to keep his tweets as "receipts."
1 Question We Still Have: When Will It Premiere?
It has been nearly a year since HBO announced the adaptation of the popular video game franchise and only days since they announced the starring cast. The COVID-19 pandemic has set countless television shows and movies back when it comes to release dates and production.
While there is currently no confirmed premiere date for the highly anticipated show, it is unlikely that a series that requires so much work in post-production will be finished in 2021. It is more likely that it will air sometime in early 2022.
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