The Last of Us


Hardened survivor Joel teams with young and capable companion Ellie to journey through a radically transformed world some 20 years after an infectious pandemic ravages humanity.

How excited are you to see this movie?: 
Average: 3.2 (1118 votes)


CURRENT STATUS: 
Development Hell

CATEGORY:

 
PROJECT DETAILS:

While this feature film never came to fruition, an HBO series was developed and premiered in January 2023 to acclaim from both fans and critics. It would go on to be one of the most watched series ever for HBO. It was renewed for another season, so it seems unlikely that they will pursue a movie again (unless it's connected to the series). (6/1/23)

Co-producer Sam Raimi revealed more details on what happened with the project in a new interview, saying: "Well, unfortunately that one -- when we went to Neil with Ghost House Pictures we were hoping to get the rights like we do any project and then we'd take it out and sell it but we'd control the rights. With this one he went to Sony -- who I have a very good relationship with -- but they have their own plans for it and I think Neil's plan for it -- I'm not trying to be political -- Neil's plan for it is not the same as Sony's. And because my company doesn't have the rights, I actually can't help him too much. Even though I'm one of the producers on it the way he set it up, he sold his rights to Sony, Sony hired me as a producer by chance, and I can't get the rights free for him so I'm not in the driver's seat and I can't tell you what Sony and Neil together will decide on. If they do move forward I'd love to help them again." Adding... "Right now it's just sitting there. They don't want to move forward, and it's not my place to say why, and Neil, I think, is in a slight disagreement with them about how things should go so there's a standstill. And I don't have the power to move it." (11/16/16)

According to writer Neil Druckmann there hasn't been any movement on the project since the last update and believes it to be in a development hell stage at the moment. Here's what he had to say in a recent interview: "I know I said in an interview a while back we had a table read, got the script to a good place and it kind of entered development hell like these things tend to do. There hasn't been any work done on it in over a year and a half." (4/5/16)

Neil Druckmann offered a brief update on the script, saying he's finished the second draft and that "there are some big changes, but the tone and what the story’s trying to say is pretty faithful to the game." (1/27/15)

Writer Neil Druckmann had an interview recently where he revealed where he's at with the script along with the difficulties in adapting such a story-driven game, saying: "I’m in the middle of it now, and it’s been super difficult because there’s so much that happens in The Last of Us – even just in the cinematics – that can’t fit in a film, let alone all the gameplay in-between and dialogue. It almost has this novel quality as far as how much content there is, and a film works really well when it’s laser-focused, so the first part of it was like: ‘Well, what is this story really about? It’s clearly about Joel and Ellie. What are the most important beats that we can’t lose? Start with those, and cut everything else out.’ It’s been really difficult to cut certain things out, but what I’m starting to get this is really focused narrative that’s about these two characters. Some parts will be similar to the game and some parts will be quite different, but it’s kind of interesting in helping me understand this other medium and its strengths compared to video games." (8/10/14)

Young actress Maisie Williams (Arya from Game of Thrones)  is reportedly in talks to play Ellie.

Screen Gems will distribute.

Co-produced by Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures banner.

Written by Neil Druckmann, who also served as the Creative Director for the game.

This will be a live-action film.

Based on the hit award-winning game with the same name.


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