HBO announced today it is working on a TV adaptation of The Last of Us, the breakout video game from Naughty Dog.
Craig Mazin, famed for penning the critically-acclaimed Chernobyl HBO series, is teaming up with Neil Druckmann – the creator of the game – to write and produce the series based on the hit 2013 PlayStation title.
An exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter confirms the project will focus on the events of the first game , with the door open to feature additional content from the upcoming sequel further down the line.
In the same report, Mazin explains his admiration for Druckmann as “the finest storyteller working in the video game medium” and his affinity with the game.
He says:
Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I’m so honored to do it in partnership with Neil.
Carolyn Strauss of Game of Thrones and Chernobyl fame will executive produce the project. Developer Naughty Dog’s president, Evan Wells, also joins as executive producer. HBO will develop the series alongside Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions.
As of writing, there’s no firm indication of when we can expect the series to air.
In a tweet sharing the news, Druckmann pointed out that The Last of Us Part 2 would take precedence until the game releases on May 29. It’s unclear how far Druckmann and Mazin are into the writing process, or whether they’ve even started.