With the immense success of The Last of Us, it is not surprising that Naughty Dog has expanded the series through other mediums. Fans will soon get to experience Joel and Ellie's story through a television adaptation debuting on January 15, 2023, and while it will remain faithful to the source material, it will also expand on the game's content. This should be good for fans, as the series could give them a spin-off they always wanted.
Although it is unlikely Naughty Dog will ever release a spin-off about Marlene or Bill, the HBO series has the chance to reveal more about these characters. It could also delve into events that The Last of Us rushes over, including Joel and Ellie's time with Sam and Henry. Though there are only nine episodes lined up for the first season, there is still plenty of opportunity to cover ground that the original game didn't.
The Scope of The Last of Us HBO Series
While adaptations of video games don't have a great track record, things look different for The Last of Us. The upcoming adaptation will feature big names, including Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel. Filming took place in Canada, and with each episode estimated to cost $15 million, it is said to be one of the most expensive productions in Canadian history.
Thanks to Naughty Dog's close involvement with the series, fans can expect it to be an authentic adaptation. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the series won't reveal more about events and characters. Neil Druckmann has revealed the adaptation will cover the events of the first game, stressing that the philosophical underpinnings of the game will be present in the television series, and in some cases even dialogue will be replicated.
The deviations woven in have been inspired by ideas and concepts that were originally planned for the game but never made the final cut. Explaining further, writer Craig Mazin has revealed that The Last of Us television series will expand on the source material rather than undo it. Fans should not expect the upcoming series to contradict the game, as they will be "experiencing more with more characters in more ways." This is something worth looking forward to, as it means fans could learn more about their favorite characters or moments that the game time-skipped over.
Characters The Last of Us Series Could Explore Deeper
During their journey to Saint Mary's Hospital, Joel and Ellie encounter several characters. One that fans constantly ask questions about is Bill. In the video game, players discover his cleverly booby-trapped safe house in a suburb. Despite his paranoia, Bill proves to be a useful ally to Joel and Ellie, and he agrees to help them find a vehicle. Players are left wondering what happened in Bill's life to make him so vigilant, though it is implied that his paranoia may be connected to losing Frank, who was once his partner. Not much is known about Frank and Bill's relationship, so the HBO series would be a perfect opportunity to flesh out Bill's character.
Despite her importance to the series, gamers know very little about Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies. She acts as Ellie's guardian for much of her early life, and she triggers the events of The Last of Us by entrusting Joel to deliver Ellie. Marlene loves Ellie very much, and she promised Ellie's mother that she would always protect her daughter. Though it is evident that Marlene has a tough choice between saving Ellie and giving humanity a chance at survival, players do not spend enough time with her to fully appreciate her moral struggle. This could be mended in the HBO series.
Events The Last of Us Series Could Explore Further
Though video games have the luxury of being quite long, The Last of Us was forced to skip over huge swaths of Joel and Ellie's journey. The HBO series has the chance to fill in some blank spaces and answer lingering questions. For example, many fans would be interested in the winter during which Joel is gravely injured, and it is up to Ellie to take care of them both. Players don't see much of it until Ellie crosses paths with David, and by then Joel has recovered. Although the Left Behind DLC explores it, this expansion spends most of its time focused on Ellie's past with Riley.
The series could also further explore the time Ellie and Joel spend with Henry and Sam. During this time, Sam and Ellie become close friends, though the Infected ensure their good times are short-lived. Henry and Sam have been cast, so fans can rest assured the characters will be making an appearance in the series. Revealing more about Sam and Ellie's bond would be vital in understanding Ellie's character, as Sam has a profound impact on her.
With its big budget and A-list cast, the series has the potential to be a worthy companion to one of the most iconic titles in gaming. For those looking for more The Last of Us, there is also a standalone multiplayer game to look forward to. The game will feature its own story and, according to Druckmann, it is bigger than Naughty Dog's single-player games. After waiting for many years, fans are eager to see what the studio has been brewing.
The Last of Us is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.