Post-apocalyptic game series The Last of Us is getting its own standalone TV series on HBO, and it debuts this weekend.
Here’s everything we know so far about The Last of Us TV adaptation. If you want to know more about another gaming-related series, take a look at our The Witcher season 3 recap.
The Last of Us series release date
The Last of Us will be released on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on HBO and HBO Max in the United States.
UK viewers will get it the next day, Monday, January 16, 2022 on Sky Atlantic/Now. They can either watch it in the evening at 9 p.m. GMTor stay up late the night before and tune in to 2am GMT, at the same time that the show airs in the United States.
The series will have nine episodes in total.
The Last of Us Trailer
In the latest trailer, we get a look at Ellie’s immunity to the virus and a look at some scenes that appear to be taken from The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC. Also, at the end, there is an appearance of the Bloater:
There’s also a photo of Joel and Ellie on set, which could be mistaken for a screenshot from the video game. Take a look below:
Who will star in The Last of Us series?
Joel will be played by Pedro Pascal, best known for The Mandalorian, while Ellie will be played by Bella Ramsey, best known for Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones (via Deadline).
Also joining the cast is Merle Dandridge, who will play the role of Marlene. It’s pretty remarkable because Dandridge also played the role in the video game, and a cast like that is very rare. Given that Dandridge was used for motion capture in the game, fans will be thrilled to see the actress portray the character in real life, and it could pave the way for other in-game voice actors to have other opportunities.
But Dandridge isn’t the only former player in the cast. Jeffrey Pierce, the voice of Tommy, joins the show. However, Pierce will play a different role on the show – a new regular character called Perry who is described as “a rebel in a quarantine zone”.
Murray Bartlett will play Frank, a minor character that Ellie and Joel meet in Lincoln, Massachusetts. He is a former associate of Joel who lives in a deserted town.
Frank lives with another character called Bill, who was originally to be played by Con O’Neill. However, he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Now, the role will be played by former Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman.
Neil Druckmann hinted on The Official The Last of Us podcast that Frank and Bill were in a relationship, so that might be something that’s explored more on the show.
Anna Torv – best known for Mindhunter – also joins the cast. Variety reports that she will play Tess, Joel’s accomplice before he goes cross-country with Ellie.
Melanie Lynskey will play an all-new character called Kathleen, a “ruthless leader of a revolutionary movement in Kansas City.”
The show will be written by the games’ co-creator and director, Neil Druckmann, along with Craig Mazin, the creator of Chernobyl. Carolyn Strauss and Evan Wells will serve as executive producers – Strauss also worked on Chernobyl and Wells is president of Naughty Dog, the production company behind the games.
Druckmann, Mazin and Peter Hoar will all direct episodes of the first season.
HBO is collaborating with Sony Pictures Television in association with PlayStation Productions on this, making it the first PlayStation Productions show.
The music for the show will be composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, the same composer of the games.
What is the plot of The Last of Us?
The Hollywood Reporter states that the show will be based on all the events of the first game. The latest trailer also revealed that there will be flashbacks that cover the events of The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC.
If you’ve never played The Last of Us, it follows Joel and Ellie as they work together to fight their way through the United States, which has been devastated by a modern fungal plague that has infected most of the population, turning them into zombie-monsters.
The two are on the hunt for a resistance group to find a cure for the pandemic, but unsurprisingly things aren’t that simple.
How to watch The Last of Us TV series
The Last of Us series is being developed by HBO, so it will air on HBO cable channels and flexible streaming service HBO Max. It costs $9.99 per month for ad-supported viewing and $14.99 per month for ad-free viewing.
The UK does not yet have HBO, but the show will be syndicated the following day after it airs in the US on Sky Atlantic and Now, like other HBO productions. Now’s Entertainment subscription costs £9.99 per month, and new subscribers could take advantage of a deal.
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