Craig Mazin, co-creator of HBO’s The Last of Us, has revealed that the video game The Last of Us Part II has impacted his creative approach towards the ongoing show.
The show is adapted from the critically acclaimed 2013 PlayStation game of the same title, which spawned a well-received sequel in 2020. The series stars Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller, a brutal survivor who must guide 14-year-old orphan Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) to the Fireflies.
Per Collider, screenwriter Craig Mazin shared how the video game’s second installment impacted his creative approach in crafting the script for season one of the show in The Last of Us podcast.
During a meeting with Neil Druckmann, the series’s co-creator, Mazin was granted access to a scene from the yet-to-be-released game, highlighting Ellie’s fascination with space exploration.
Read what he had to say below:
When I first started working with Neil on this adaptation, it was before The Last of Us Part II came out. It was the first time I’d gone to Naughty Dog, and he asked if I wanted to see a sequence from the second game that touches on Ellie’s fascination with being an astronaut and space travel, and it was this beautiful moment. I said we had this opportunity Neil didn’t have on the first game. We know more now. It was a chance to show how Joel knew Ellie. She asks if he knows who her favorite astronaut is, and he knows. Instinctively he’s already in her head and knows her, and she isn’t shocked by this.
Neil Druckmann
In episode 6, viewers catch a glimpse of Ellie’s fascination with space. However, in the game, this interest becomes a central theme of an entire chapter.
This is a significant shift from the original 2013 game, where Ellie only briefly mentions her love for space and astronauts.
However, the sequel’s controversial storyline sparked a significant backlash in the past. So, there is added pressure on creators Mazin and Druckmann as they navigate a divided fanbase.
Before the release of The Last of Us Part II, crucial details about the game’s storyline were leaked, leading to a barrage of adverse reactions from fans.
Although the leaked intel was incomplete, the news was met with disapproval from the gaming community. The game’s director, Neil Druckmann, the voice actors, and Naughty Dog’s development team even received death threats, and the situation turned ugly.
The announcement of season 2 of the TV show has sparked a severe dilemma about the potential storyline among the fans.
Mazin and Druckermann have previously clarified that the storyline will remain consistent with that of the video games without deviating too much from the source material.
Based on their comments, it seems that The Last of Us season 2 will follow the award-winning yet controversial storyline of The Last of Us Part II.
About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
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