Yes, I know. Movies based on video games tend to suck. However, times are changing, and more developers are directly involved in the production of a film.
For example, as Deadline reports, Sony Screen Gems and Naughty Dog are teaming up to produce a movie based on the award-winning PlayStation 3 exclusive, The Last Of Us. This isn’t about some random Hollywood director making mincemeat out of a perfectly good story because he knows nothing about it.
Rather, this is precisely the opposite. TLoU creative director Neil Druckmann will write the script for the big-screen adaptation, and other Naughty Dog head honchos are directly involved as well (co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra, as well as game director Bruce Straley). Now that’s good news. If these guys are calling the shots, the film will definitely have an advantage.
It seems Spider-Man director Sam Raimi has a role in this endeavor as well, but we don’t have any further details. Said Wells:
“Since our game released last June, we’ve talked with many companies about making a film, but we couldn’t have found better partners who share our creative vision and high standards.”
Okay, so who should play Joel? How about Ellie? The two major parts really have to be filled by exceptional actors, because Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson were exceptional. Hey, why not use them? Do they not have the appropriate big-screen presence…?
