Nick Offerman, who plays Bill in the upcoming The Last of Us television adaptation, divulged during a red-carpet interview which video games he most enjoyed growing up. The actor, known for his role as Ron Swanson in NBC's Parks and Recreation and as host of the reality competition show, Making It, will face a much darker and more dramatic turn as Bill in HBO's rendition of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us.
The reviews are in for HBO's The Last of Us. Amid the collective sigh of relief from gamers world-weary from subpar adaptations of their favorite franchises, the show is a critical darling. With Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the roles of Joe and Ellie, the entire cast is being praised for bringing depth and complexity to their characters. The Last of Us, which debuts on Sunday, January 15, is being hailed as a triumph, which stays faithful to its source material while standing on its own as a harrowing glimpse into a post-apocalyptic world brought to the brink.
At the red carpet of The Last of Us premiere, Nick Offerman was asked during an interview with IGN about his favorite video games. Admitting to not having enjoyed the medium much since his late 20s, he revealed his early love affair with arcade cabinets, specifically, Joust and Galaga. Offerman joked about how much money he spent as a kid on the two games, stating he would happily spend all of his mother's laundry money on them. He did not specify whether his role in The Last of Us television series would compel him to give the games a try, but it would be a stark contrast to see how far video games have come since the heyday of coin-operated arcade cabinets.
HBO's The Last of Us is written and directed by Chernobyl alumni Craig Mazin and Cheryl Strauss, as well as the original creator of The Last of Us video game, Neil Druckmann. The inclusion of the latter may be a factor in why this video game adaptation is already receiving a much more positive reception than other attempts to translate the medium into live-action. The casting decisions for The Last of Us show have been lauded as spot-on, including Nick Offerman's take on Bill. The character from the games has a smaller but still significant supporting role, and many fans are hopeful that the HBO series will expand on the story of Bill and his interactions with Joel and Ellie.
The excitement surrounding HBO's The Last of Us has hit a fever pitch. Nick Offerman's recent interview is another tidbit to tide fans over until the highly anticipated January 15 premiere.
The Last of Us premieres January 15 on HBO.