The hit Playstation video game The Last of Us is set to be adapted into a television series at HBO. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will see Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin re-teaming with HBO and Playstation Productions to co-write the adaptation alongside Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann. It will be a co-production between HBO, Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions.
The Last of Us follows Joel and Ellie, two survivors of a post-apocalyptic world after a viral pandemic transformed people into mindless, ravaging monsters. As Joel and Ellie travel across the country and fend off monsters and humans, they have to learn who they really are in their fight for survival and redemption. The game became a worldwide hit for Playstation, selling over 17 million copies and garnering several awards at various video game ceremonies. A sequel, The Last of Us Part II, will be released for Playstation 4 on May 29.
“Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus,” said Mazin. “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. “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.”
“We’re so psyched to be teaming up with @HBO to create a new The Last of Us series with @Neil_Druckmann and @clmazin at the helm,” said Naughty Dog over their Twitter account.
I can’t believe we get to team up with one of my favorite writers to bring Ellie and Joel’s journey to HBO. https://t.co/GNsl0sUVSK
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) March 5, 2020
“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,” said 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.”
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