Over the course of their nascent history, video game adaptations are often met with a particular kind of scrutiny. Sure, that preconception largely comes down to a series of mediocre translations that fail to capture the tone and atmosphere of their source material. But with interpretations of Michael Fassbender-led Assassin’s Creed, Splinter Cell and The Last of Us all looming on the horizon, the sub-genre may soon experience a renaissance of sorts.
It’s a charge that has been spearheaded by the latter IP, given how well Naughty Dog’s PlayStation-exclusive was received among critics and fans alike. And in a recent interview with Game Informer, the studio’s Neil Druckmann touched upon development of the film version, stating that the translation will remain faithful to the game, but will still make some “big changes” in the journey between mediums.
“When I’m in the office it’s all Uncharted 4 all the time,” he said. “When I should be sleeping, it’s the [Last of Us] movie. “There’s some big changes, but the tone and what the story’s trying to say is pretty faithful to the game.”
Further in the interview, Druckmann — who served as creative director on The Last of Us video game — also revealed that the studio has held table readings with several actors, though remained mum on exactly who. Is it possible that one of these stars in question was Game of Thrones‘ Maisie Williams? At the time of writing, there is no word on who Druckmann and Co. are eyeing for the coveted role of Joel, the grizzled survivor who escorts Ellie across a decimated United States.
In case you haven’t had the opportunity of playing through what is arguably Naughty Dog’s magnum opus, we’ve included a synopsis of The Last of Us below to give you an idea of what Screen Gems is brewing behind the scenes.
The rich and visceral story of The Last of Us, which was released in June of 2013, follows hardened survivor, Joel, and Ellie, a young and capable girl, on their journey through a radically transformed world. Set twenty years after an infectious pandemic spread by the cordyceps virus ravaged the course of humanity, these two people, who were brought together by chance, must make life-altering decisions in order to survive. The Last of Us explores themes of survival, loyalty, love, and redemption in an emotionally charged expedition across a post-epidemic United States.
