In recent years, video games have become the perfect media to translate into TV and film adaptations, because of their emotive storytelling, their beautiful visual effects, and their large fan base. But the problem with having a core group of people who know the games inside out and have loved them for years is that the TV and movie versions of the games often don’t live up to the expectations of their followers, and lose the magic of the original game that made it so compelling in the first place. Notable examples of this in recent years include Assassin's Creed, Monster Hunter, and Uncharted.

And although there is definitely a recent spate of adaptations that have been very successful, these tend to be movies and TV series that are based on the lore or the characters within the game, rather than a more literal translation of the game’s storyline itself, for example the Netflix adaptations of Arcane, which is essentially creating a backstory to the well-loved characters in League of Legends, before the events of the game take place, and The Witcher, which draws upon the lore and the mythology behind it’s videogame counterpart, relying on the incredibly well-loved Geralt to carry the story.

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So that poses the question, will The Last of Us make a successful adaptation, like Arcane, or will it fall into the curse of so many on-screen translations that have come before it, and let its fans down? The good news is The Last of Us has all the essential components that are needed to make a successful film or TV series, including a cast of well fleshed out, believable and relatable characters, a gripping storyline full of twists and surprises, that keeps people on the edge of their seat, and a litany of dangerous scenarios and high stakes situations. But probably the biggest reason why many of these video game adaptations feel cursed to be unsuccessful is due to bad script-writing and directorial decisions, so the fate of The Last of Us show really does hinge on the creators and the stars they have chosen to deliver the essential roles.

The Last of Us cast

Another key element of transferring this game to the big screens is the CGI involved in creating those all important monsters of the world, the Infected. These not-quite-zombie creatures are what makes the game so thrilling, in this typical apocalyptic world in which the human race is fighting for survival. Luckily, the series is being produced by HBO, who are no strangers to high-budget CGI-heavy programs, including Game of Thrones and Westworld.

The original game is full of dangerous variations of these virus-ridden beings, who are the main obstacle in Joel’s path. When he comes across Ellie, a reclusive teenage girl with a very important secret, he decides to help her travel across the United States in search of a safe haven, because she reminds him of his daughter, who he lost at the start of the pandemic.

A story like this makes for a great adaptation as we see the two characters along with a host of others, fighting to protect one another against all odds, which becomes even more apparent when Joel realizes that Ellie may be the key to the entire human race’s survival, and the cure for all of those who have been infected, but that to extract this cure from her would require her death. Building up this sort of relationship across the course of the game and then leaving the moral decision with the player as to whether or not to tear it down makes for very engaging viewing.

The Last of Us

This works both ways of course, with some great examples of TV Series being made into Video games that follow along these same fast-paced, crucial decision themes, with the best example being the Telltale's The Walking Dead games, which exist in the same world as the show, but focuses on different characters. However, it is very important to note that the most successful adaptations, either from games to films, or from films to games, tend to be the ones that add to the world of the original, rather than directly trying to recreate it.

Many fans who have already loved the original are keen for more stories about the world, rather than seeing the same story in a different medium, which is why upcoming games such as Hogwarts Legacies and Gollum are set to be so popular. This doesn’t bode well for the success of The Last of Us show, which looks as though it will be a direct translation of the game’s storyline, surrounding the same characters and their journey across America. Does this mean that it will fall into the same disastrous category as many that have come before it, or should The Last of Us fans hold out hope that they can put a slightly new spin on an old story, and give it that exciting edge that fans are looking for.

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