The Last of Us: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s chemistry is out of this world (interview: video).
The highly-anticipated television adaptation of “The Last of Us” is almost here, and stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are ready to bring their post-apocalyptic chemistry to the small screen. Both actors are no strangers to epic fantasy/scifi series, with Pascal starring in “The Mandalorian” and Ramsey appearing in “Game of Thrones.”
“The Last of Us” is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure survival horror game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released in 2013 and received critical acclaim for its narrative, gameplay, and character development. It has won numerous awards and is considered one of the greatest video games of all time.
The game takes place in the year 2033, twenty years after a deadly fungus has infected the world and turned many of the population into zombie-like creatures called the Infected. The player takes control of Joel, a smuggler who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across the United States in an effort to find a cure for the fungus. Along the way, they must navigate through dangers both human and Infected, and form a bond as they rely on each other for survival.
The television adaptation of “The Last of Us” will follow a similar story and is expected to stay faithful to the events of the game. However, the show will also have some freedom to explore new storylines and character development. With Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann at the helm, both of whom were involved in the creation of the game, fans can expect a high-quality and faithful adaptation.
In the new series, Pascal plays Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie (Ramsey) across a post-apocalyptic United States. The show also features Gabriel Luna as Joel’s brother Tommy, Merle Dandridge as resistance leader Marlene, and Anna Torv as Joel’s smuggler partner Tess.
The series is the largest television production in Canadian history and was filmed in Alberta from July 2021 to June 2022. It is the first HBO series to be based on a video game, and is a joint production by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, The Mighty Mint, and Word Games. The first season will consist of nine episodes written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, with original game composer Gustavo Santaolalla composing the score. The series is set to debut on January 15, 2023.
Fans of the game can expect a faithful adaptation, but with some room for exploration and evolution. “The Last of Us” showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have worked hard to bring the beloved characters of Joel and Ellie to life, and with the support of HBO and a talented cast, the series is likely to be a hit, unless they totally fluff it.
Keep an eye out for “The Last of Us” when it debuts on January 15th 2023, via HBO Plus.
