HBO Max's The Last of Us adaptation premieres in less than two weeks, and the streaming service is heavily promoting the series. The latest in the promotional campaign is a behind-the-scenes look at the much-awaited series where the creators and actors take fans on a journey of the sets and a glimpse of the amount of work that went into bringing this series to life.
The Last of Us is based on the extremely popular game franchise of the same name, which has sold over 37 million copies globally. The first game in the franchise is referred to by many as the top game of the previous decade. To turn this mammoth of a franchise into a television adaptation could be a risky move. But, the behind-the-scenes video revealed by HBO Max offers some hope to fans of the franchise, as it promises to be a close adaptation.
The video begins with some new footage from The Last of Us series that is reminiscent of the games in many ways. Fans have already seen Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie, but the new footage will please them even more because the similarities between the live adaptation and games are quite accurate. Neil Druckmann, who created the game franchise and is now involved in the TV adaptation, reminds fans that the series will be based “20 years after a very specific outbreak happened that involves fungus.” This plot is the same as the first game, which means the story will be similar.
For those who haven’t played the games, the video contains some spoilers, including the fact that Joel's daughter Sarah dies during the early stages. This is the event that “shapes the character for the rest of his life.” The creators and actors offer a look at the plot, which involves the smuggler Joel having to transport Ellie across forbidden lands and hand her off to a “group that provides hope for mankind.” Fans are offered a look at some behind-the-scenes footage where the actors are seen filming various scenes.
The video is almost like an homage to The Last of Us games, as it brings its characters and plot to a live adaptation. It is interesting to see how some scenes are exact replicas of those from the games. Druckmann promises to fans that the adaptation “does justice, and then some.” At one point, Ramsey confesses that she was “advised not to play the games,” but she secretly watched the gameplay anyway. The video is enough to get fans of the franchise even more excited and hyped, and it remains to be seen whether their expectations will be met.
The Last of Us premieres on HBO Max on January 15, 2023.
Source: HBO Max/YouTube