If this week hasn’t had enough surprises so far, buckle up: there’s more. Naughty Dogs’ The Last of Us is being adapted as a TV series by HBO in partnership with PlayStation Productions. The adaptation of the acclaimed survival game will be PS Productions’ first TV series as well.
The news comes from an exclusive set of interviews by The Hollywood Reporter. The outlet says the TV series will adapt events from the first game and potentially add to it with content from The Last of Us Part 2 after it releases May 29.
It’s in capable hands as well. Craig Mazin, director of the acclaimed Chernobyl series, will be The Last of Us series’ director, and Carolynn Strauss (exec. producer for Chernobyl and Game of Thrones) will act as one executive producer.
Neil Druckmann was the game’s creative director and writer, and he’s working with Mazin to write the adaptation and is also acting as an executive producer. Finally, Naughty Dogs’ president, Evan Wells, is another executive producer.
It’s a personal project for Mavin himself, who told the Reporter he’s a devoted fan of the game as well:
Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus.
Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I’m so honored to do it in partnership with Neil.
Druckmann himself is equally pleased about working with Mazin, saying he’s an ideal fit for the project:
With Chernobyl, Craig and HBO created a tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece. I couldn’t think of better partners to bring the story of The Last of Us to life as a television show.
So far, there’s no word on when we can expect The Last of US TV series to air, though it’s probably safe to assume it won’t be until after May 29. If that’s too far away, though, you can always content yourself with the official Last of Us animated adaptation that never came to be.
Between The Last of Us‘ TV adaptation and the Uncharted film, it seems PlayStation Productions is starting off strong. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more The Last of Us TV news as it develops.
