It's likely that the The Last of Us series on HBO will not only solve a lore problem associated with the Cordyceps infection, but actually develop it into a powerful force in the story. Based on the widely-loved Naughty Dog video game, the highly-anticipated show is set to release in mid-January. Many are speculating that the uniquely powerful story could break the ongoing trend of unsuccessful video-game-to-movie adaptations in recent years and bring together the game's devout fans with new audiences alike.
It should be no surprise that the adaptation of The Last Of Us took a long time - ironically work began during the intensity of a real pandemic in 2020. The inherent challenges of translating the narrative across mediums have made some concerned about how close the story of the series might stay to the game. However, even as the creators have said themselves, in many ways the switch to TV has opened up opportunities for further development and exploration of content that was more clear-cut in the original game.
The Last Of Us' Show Variant Can Patch A Lore Gap
In the game version of The Last Of Us, most of the information learned about the infected is found in survivor's notes collected throughout the game. The infected - afflicted with the Cordyceps Zombie Virus - are typically encountered in brief and intense moments of combat. However, a TV series would allow viewers to spend more time watching the infected, presenting an opportunity for the show's creators to reveal more of the transformation process. Long, lingering, or close-up shots could offer a sort of awful intimacy. The New Yorker even reports that one early version of the script briefly used the perspective of one of the infected, potentially attempting to humanize them and add to the horror of the narrative.
HBO's The Last Of Us Can't Mirror The Games Exactly (& That's Not Bad)
Again, rather than being a source of concern, many potential changes in the series could be both necessary and positive for a screen adaptation - although it seems that the creators have made efforts to stay close to the original story. There's already been speculation that The Last Of Us might break the game's timeline as well, rearranging elements from Ellie and Joel's cross-country journey and even introducing some of the story's more terrifying creatures at different times. Creator Neil Druckmann suggested new developments with characters including Bill and Frank - possibly more. However, Druckmann maintains that the farther the series drifts from the game, the more it will be emotionally justified. If these changes are done well, The Last Of Us could bode well for the future of video-game screen adaptations.