HBO's long-awaited adaptation of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part 2 are post-apocalyptic survival horror games that both achieved numerous game of the year awards. An adaptation has been rumored for years and the first game was initially going to receive a film adaptation before a TV series was favored to ensure the game's story was not rushed.
HBO's The Last of Us has already confirmed that Game of Thrones duo Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will play the main characters, Joel Miller and Ellie Williams. In The Last of Us game, the player controls Joel as he helps to escort Ellie across an America that has been ravaged by a fungal infection and the numerous undead that have been afflicted with the virus. During their journey, their constant loss and desperation result in the pair needing one another more than they could have imagined when they first met. The relationship between the two main characters will therefore be essential to the show's success, however, the numerous characters they meet along the way must live up to the high standards of the games' writing.
The Last of Us show will differ from the games.
HBO's The Last Of Us Will Have Less Action Than The Games
The nature of games is to engage the player at all times and to ensure that their hands are constantly controlling their gaming pads. Thus, The Last of Us, like many other games, has frequent action sequences that require the player to battle the infected and the living with a variety of crafted weapons and guns. Whilst there will no doubt be plenty of action in the series, Neil Druckmann, the director of The Last of Us game and showrunner on HBO's show, said that the show will focus on drama over action. Druckmann explained that the shift in emphasis is because of the change in medium: "For example, in the game, there's so much action you have to train the player about the mechanics." Although less action could disappoint some viewers, the games' main strengths are the story and the relationships between the characters, particularly Ellie and Joel. It is probably this reason why Druckmann says some of his favorite episodes are those that "deviate greatly" from the game and are more character orientated. It appears that HBO is aware of the fans' fierce love for the characters and that the reception of the show will be determined by how it treats Ellie and Joel.
Bill, Tess, And Marlene Will Be Given Bigger Roles In The Show
According to the show's IMDB page, Tess (Anna Torv) and Marlene (Merle Dandridge) will appear in six episodes whereas Bill (Nick Offerman) will appear in all ten episodes. Tess and Marlene are two of the main driving forces behind Joel escorting Ellie across the country, however, they are not present for a large chunk of the first The Last of Us game. Meanwhile, Bill (Nick Offerman) only features in a single chapter in the game when Joel and Ellie visit him in his booby-trap-laden town. Tess and Marlene may only have minor appearances within some episodes, such as through flashbacks, however, it is more likely that the first act of the game, when Tess and Marlene feature heavily, will be expanded upon in the show. This could work to the show's advantage as both Tess and Marlene have complicated relationships with Joel and Ellie that inform major character moments in the final stretch of the game. The greater emphasis placed on Tess and Marlene's characters will simultaneously develop the personalities of the show's leads.
The fact that Nick Offerman's Bill will appear in all ten episodes suggests that his role in the show will differ heavily from the game and that he may accompany Joel and Ellie on much of their journey. In the games, Bill does not work well with others and prefers to remain in his own company. If he chooses to help Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us show, it would allow Bill to have a character arc that was not present in the games, changing from a sole survivor into a team player that looks out for more than himself.
New Characters Will Enhance The World Of The Last Of Us
Several actors have been cast in roles that were not characters present in the games, such as Murray Barlett as Frank, Jeffrey Pierce as Jerry, and Nelson Leis as Josiah. In the games, Frank was Bill's partner, however, he was not alive during the events of the game. This proves that HBO is choosing to focus on developing Bill's character in the show, whilst dramatizing the pair's fraught relationship that was only ever hinted at in the games. Furthermore, Bill and Frank's larger presence in the show suggests that the show will spend more time in Bill's town.
Jeffrey Pierce voiced Joel's brother, Tommy in The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part 2, however, he is playing Pierce in the show, a character that was never featured in the games. Meanwhile, Josiah is another character who is not involved in the games. The inclusion of both hints that the show will see more communities and groups that were not in the show. If not, they could be expanding upon the groups seen in the games, such as the Hunters and FEDRA. In the games, both groups had tense and blood-soaked encounters with Joel and Ellie which will be exciting to see on the small screen. Regardless, the inclusion of new characters demonstrates HBO's intentions to build upon the world-building in the games, which whilst constantly interesting, often was underdeveloped due to the streamlined narrative.
Audiences Will Learn More About The Pasts Of Joel And Ellie
The focus on enhancing the story of the games with new drama-focused episodes will likely result in the show delving into Joel and Ellie's pasts. Other than occasional moments in the games where they told each other stories about their pasts, Ellie's trip to an abandoned mall with her best friend Riley was a playable DLC in the first HBO's The Last Of Us expands upon the story of the games, the concentration on the characters will only serve to endear a new wave of fans to the property.