In just ten days, The Last of Us on HBO is going to introduce us to the live-action versions of Joel and Ellie as they embark on a post-apocalyptic journey unlike anything you’ve seen in the medium. Now, a behind-the-scenes featurette is here to tell you everything you need to know before watching the show, and by the looks of it, Craig Mazin’s creation is a faithful adaptation of the acclaimed 2013 video game.
The story of The Last of Us takes place 20 years after a deadly virus destroys much of humanity and brings civilization to the verge of extinction. Joel is a black market smuggler trying his best to get by in this brand new world, but his life is forever changed when Ellie, a 14-year-old girl who’s seemingly immune to the virus, enters it.
Joel loses his daughter Sarah when the virus first breaks out, an event that turns him into a resentful cynic. However, through the journey they share together, Joel and Ellie relearn much of what it is to be human. That’s basically everything you need to know about the tale before going in, but The Last of Us crew are here nonetheless to offer new fans a reference point and old fans a much-needed refresher.
The Last of Us originally came out in 2013 as a PlayStation 3 exclusive and immediately became one of the greatest video games of all time. Naughty Dog released a sequel in 2020, which also ended up bagging every Game of the Year trophy, further immortalizing the Last of Us name in the annals of the entertainment industry.
As such, it was only a matter of time before a live-action adaptation came along, so we’re just glad that it was HBO that ended up getting the greenlight.
The Last of Us is premiering on January 15.