HBO’s The Last of Us has surprises that will “blow your mind”

The Last of Us has one of the richest storylines in video game history. HBO adapting it for television makes perfect sense, and with Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and game writer Neil Druckmann both on board, there’s every chance that it’ll satisfy fans. It’ll be faithful to the source material but also pack some surprises for long-time fans of the game.

The Last of Us takes place two decades into a zombie apocalypse. It follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler who is tasked with escorting Ellie (Bella Ramsey) — who appears immune to the virus — across the U.S. to a group of scientists who who will use her blood to develop a vaccine. Of course, traversing the country isn’t easy, with threats from both the dead and the living ever present. Going by the recent trailer, the show looks like it adapts the game faithfully. It looks brilliant:

Mazin and Druckman both appeared at CCXP 2022 to rave about the upcoming adaptation, respond to concerns, and tease what to expect. According to Druckmann, the show not only draws directly from the game but also takes storylines that didn’t make the final cut and implements them into the show:

"There’s stuff that was written that we didn’t get a chance to put in the game that is in the show. So, you’ll get to see an enrichment of these characters…It’s interesting, we’ve now talked to people who have watched the entire season and went back and played the game, and they said the game is now richer having watched the show."

Meanwhile, Mazin promised plenty of surprises that will blow the minds of even the most passionate fans. “It’s entirely about the journey. I have played The Last of Us about 12 times. I know how it ends. I love the journey. And we promise, there will be surprises along the way. If you’ve played the game, I promise you there are things that you don’t know that are coming that will blow your mind.”

From the trailer, we know that the show will also adapt the video game’s DLC, Left Behind, which chronicles Ellie’s relationship with her friend Riley from before she met Joel. It might even cover some of the comic book spinoff, American Dreams. There’s plenty of material to draw on besides the first game.

The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey reassures fans of the video games

When adapting any beloved property, there’s always going to be a certain level of apprehension. Video game adaptations in particular have a bad reputation. Look no further than Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed, Resident Evil, etc.

As for The Last of Us, star Bella Ramsey told MeriStation that she doesn’t care about the haters. She’s proud of what they’ve made:

"It’s an immersive experience to play a game and you get so much time with these characters being them, and interacting with them. I understand the attachment people have with these characters and the protective element. We fully understand people’s concerns. I think that we have done a good job. I’m not worried, it’s gonna be fun, and if people hate the show they’ll hate the show."

The Last of Us premieres on January 15 on HBO Max. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be huge. At least, I hope it’ll be a massive success!

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