With just over a month until it premieres, a new The Last of Us trailer for HBO's TV show reveals an up-close look at the show's gruesome monsters, known as Clickers. Based on the award-winning 2013 video game developed by Naughty Dog, the HBO series stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, a smuggler, and Bella Ramsey as his cargo, Ellie. Due to the immense popularity of both the first and second installments of the video game, the show's all-star cast, and the news that the big-budget series is reportedly the largest television production in Canadian history, viewers are eagerly anticipating the post-apocalyptic series' arrival in January.
The first The Last of Us trailer released focused on the show's road trip ambiance and the introduction of Joel (Pascal) and Ellie (Ramsey), teasing an incredibly game-accurate show. The adaptation's faithfulness to the games is revealed further in HBO Max's latest trailer for the series, which offers a more detailed look at several exciting elements of the video-game-based show, including more shots of the Clickers (one of which is a variation called a Bloater) in action as well, as teases for the emotional storyline. The major focus of the most recent look at The Last of Us is Joel and Ellie's father-daughter relationship, which will develop throughout the course of the series. See the new trailer below:
Why Getting The Clickers Right Is Essential To HBO's TLOU
In the dystopian world of The Last of Us, humanity is plagued by a mutant Cordyceps fungus that uses the human body as its host. By the third stage of infection, the Infected transform into aggressive monsters called Clickers, which have superhuman strength and use echolocation to navigate their environment due to the fungal growth overtaking their faces. Bloaters, shown in the above trailer, represent the fourth and most dangerous stage of infection. The presence of these intelligent and terrifying adversaries significantly complicates Joel and Ellie's cross-country trip as well as creating stakes for characters to not only avoid them but avoid turning into them.
Ellie's immunity to the infection is a major plot point in the games and, based on The Last of Us trailer, the series, so it's essential that the audience buys into the importance of finding a cure for the virus and by extension, Joel and Ellie's mission. If the Clickers aren't every bit as gruesome in the show as they are in the games, the HBO series risks alienating the audience familiar with the games as well as losing the interest of viewers new to the source material. Luckily, previous clips as well as the new trailer confirm that The Last of Us show is perfectly bringing the horrifying creatures to life.
Every New Reveal In The Last Of Us Trailer
In addition to the appearance of a Bloater, the new trailer revealed more detailed looks at Tess (Anna Torv), Bill (Nick Offerman), Ellie's friend Riley (Storm Reid), and Joel's daughter Sarah (Nico Parker). In addition, the Last of Us trailer unveiled new characters created specifically for the show, Marlon (Graham Greene) and Florence (Elaine Miles), a married couple who advise Joel not to go west. One of the most exciting reveals in the trailer depicts Ashley Johnson, the voice of Ellie in the video games, seemingly playing Ellie's mother in the new series. HBO's The Last of Us continues to prove its commitment to faithfully adapting the games, which will likely increase hype for the show even more leading up to its premiere on January 15.
Source: HBO Max