HBO’s series adaptation of Neil Druckmann’s popular 2013 Sony PlayStation video game The Last of Us has commenced filming in Calgary, Alberta. At this time, the highly-anticipated series doesn’t have a release date.
Written by Druckmann and Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin, The Last of Us will follow Pedro Pascal’s Joel and Bella Ramsey’s 14-year-old Ellie as they journey across the post-apocalyptic United States. The two characters are forced to depend on each other for survival as they travel out of an oppressive quarantine zone. Despite never appearing on screen together, Pascal and Ramsey both had fan-favorite roles on HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Series star Gabriel Luna celebrated the start of filming The Last of Us by sharing a behind-the-scenes set photo of the long-awaited show on social media. The image shows Luna in a car alongside Pascal and Nico Parker, who is playing Joel’s daughter Sarah. "Already love these folks," said Luna in the caption. Luna, who is best known for his role as Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider in Agent of S.H.I.E.LD., is playing Joel’s younger brother Tommy. In the video game series, Tommy spent the early years of the outbreak with Joel. Tommy eventually separated from Joel because he decided to try to save humanity over his brother. The sympathetic character was highly skilled with handguns and preferred more distant forms of combat.
Sony’s The Last of Us is played from a third-person perspective and involved players using weaponry to fend off aggressive humans and cannibalistic creatures. The game earned universal acclaim and was praised for its diverse characters, visual design, and captivating story arcs. The Last of Us Part II was released last June and sold over four million copies worldwide in just three days. It was awarded game of the year and ended up breaking numerous PlayStation grossing records. Mazin teased that the adaptation will enhance and not undo The Last of Us game’s story.
The Last of Us is one of several video game adaptations in the works. Druckmann’s other best-selling video game franchise, Uncharted, is expected to premiere a feature film in theatres in February of 2022. Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Venom), Uncharted stars Tom Holland as Nathan Drake and Mark Wahlberg as Drake’s mentor Victor “Sully” Sullivan. The film is a prequel to the game series and will center on a younger version of Drake. In the game series, Drake and his team traveled the globe for coveted lost treasure.
Meanwhile, Eli Roth’s film adaption of the Borderlands franchise started production in April. The blockbuster will follow an outlaw who attempts to find a missing girl on her home planet of Pandora. Borderland's large ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Black, and Édgar Ramírez.
The Last of Us currently doesn't have an official premiere date.
Source: Gabriel Luna|Instagram