Last of Us TV Series Will Not Undo or Copy the Popular PlayStation Hit

On a recent airing of BBC Radio 5 Live's Chernobyl Special, HBO series producer Craig Mazin, promises that the upcoming adaptation will not retcon the events or story of its inspiration. Based on past video game adaptations, fans have good reason to doubt the upcoming TV series. However, recent reports detail that the HBO TV series will be replacing the previously announced Last of Us movie from 2014.

According to Mazin, he will be working closely with LOU2 game director Neil Druckmann, as they look to expand the source material, rather than undo it. "I think fans of something worry that, when the property gets licensed to someone else, those people don't really understand it, or are going to change it," Mazin explained. "In this case, I'm doing it with the guy who did it, and so the changes that we're making are designed to fill things out and expand, not to undo, but rather to enhance." As a fan of the Last of Us series, Mazin sees the development of this new show as a "dream come true." 
 

The Last of Us franchise is chock full of strong emotions across the two games, and these pose challenges for an adaptation of any sort. "We're creating anew and we're also reimagining what is already there to present a different format," he added. "It's kind of a dream come true for me. I'm a little bit scared because a lot of emotions connected to this game are rather intense. I think I'm probably going to go hide in a bunker for a while because you can't make everyone happy!"

Soon after the TV series was announced, Mazin consoled fans, saying that Ellie would still be the same character that fans have come to know and love, as well as the fact that the show would be an ongoing story, rather than a standalone movie. Sony Pictures Television is working closely with PlayStation Productions and the director of Naughty Dog's most recent game.

Despite how past games have been adapted, I personally understand where fans' doubts are coming from. However, due to the fact that the game's writer and an avid fan are working behind the scenes, the upcoming LOU series holds a bit more promise than previous adaptations.
 

Kieran Mouritsen
Editor, NoobFeed