'The Last of Us' HBO adaptation: Fans optimistic about TV series but say game already told its story perfectly
HBO will be adapting the popular video game 'The Last of Us' into a TV series. It's already in good hands, being developed by award-winning video game writer Neil Druckmann and the Emmy-winning writer of 'Chernobyl,' Craig Marzin.
HBO released a statement about the series: "The story takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the US and depend on each other for survival. The HBO series will cover the events of the original game, which was written by Druckmann, with the possibility of additional content based on the forthcoming game sequel, The Last of Us Part II, which will release on May 29, 2020."
There has been a lot of positive reaction online to the news. One user on Twitter wrote, "This is a video game adaptation I can get behind!" Another posted, "Can't believe HBO is making a The Last of Us series. literally my one of the best story games I've ever played, so my expectations are super high lol."
Many 'Chernobyl' fans place faith in HBO being able to make a good adaptation of the game after hearing who would be adapting the show. "Binge-watched HBO’s Chernobyl in one sitting. Sometimes an already horrific reality needn’t be dramatised and this is proof of that. Absolutely moving. 'The Last of Us' series is in good hands," wrote one user.
The standards expected for the quality of the TV are high. A lot of video game fans question the need for a TV series in the first place, believing the video game to have told the story of Joel (Troy Baker) and Ellie (Ashley Johnson) as perfectly as it could be told. "Now I've learned HBO's The Last of Us show will retell the story of Joel and Ellie it feels so strange. The game already does a tremendous job of telling that story, feels like you're discounting the medium with an adaptation. Keen to see it, but still a bit mixed," observed a fan.
Some feel like the move devalues the art of storytelling in video games. One fan wrote, "The Last of Us HBO TV show news; dipping back and forth between being giddy with excitement and also “oh I guess TLOU is regressing to a lesser medium”. I’m gonna be glass half full on this one for now though."
Another fan believes that the show should cover new ground. "Look, it's cool they're making a Last of Us show for HBO but let's not follow Joel and Ellie. They have their story. We lived that story with some great performances. I don't mind that it's set in the Last of Us setting but I don't want to watch Joel and Ellie."
There is no release date yet for the show, but the highly anticipated sequel to the first game releases on May 29, 2020.