Naughty Dog's beloved post-apocalyptic video game is finding new life with The Last of Us as Joel, a smuggler hired to deliver Bella Ramsey's Ellie, a teenager immune to the Cordyceps brain infection that has wiped out the world, to a group of survivors working to manufacture a cure. Alongside Pascal and Ramsey, the cast for HBO's The Last of Us adaptation includes Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Jeffrey Pierce, Anna Torv, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman and Storm Reid.
Given the large appreciation for The Last of Us games, some have remained skeptical about a potential adaptation, namely with the source material already proving plenty cinematic on its own. However, with it being adapted into an HBO show, a network celebrated for faithful adaptations after the Game of Thrones franchise, and game creator/director Neil Druckmann returning to co-create with Chernobyl's Craig Mazin, anticipation has grown for its potential. Just a month after the first official look arrived, audiences are getting an exciting full look at The Last of Us show.
In honor of the franchise's annual celebration, HBO has released the official The Last of Us trailer. The video offers the first proper look at the long-awaited adaptation of Naughty Dog's beloved game and Pascal and Ramsey's Joel and Ellie as they set off on their dangerous cross-country journey. Check out the exciting trailer below:
How Last of Us Show Trailer Stays True To Games
While plenty of set images have teased a faithful approach to the source material, The Last of Us trailer is sure to come as an exciting confirmation of how true HBO's show is staying to the games. One of the first immediate draws for fans of the games is the trailer being set to the tune of Hank Williams' "Alone and Forsaken," used in the original Last of Us game as Ellie and Joel headed into Pittsburgh, where they would meet siblings Sam and Henry, who have been cast in the show with Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard. Additionally, the trailer offers the first proper look at the show's adaptation of the Clickers, revealing a terrifying practical incarnation of the infected game enemies.
One of the most notable takeaways from The Last of Us trailer is the inclusion of the iconic opening sequence from the original game in which Joel, his brother Tommy and daughter Sarah attempted to flee their Texas suburb as the outbreak goes viral. It's a moment that holds a special place in many gamers' hearts for one very heartbreaking reason, which the trailer seemingly points to being recreated to once again devastate those immersing themselves in The Last of Us. Only time will tell how faithful the show proves to be when The Last of Us premieres on HBO in early 2023.
Source: HBO