HBO’s The Last of Us TV show is set to add new story elements that did not appear in the game, and that’s actually a good thing. Whenever an adaptation plans to strike out on its own and risk redefining the original work, it’s often a reason for fans of the source material to worry. However, there’s good reason to think that this won’t be a concern with The Last of Us.
For HBO’s The Last of Us, they’re adapting the video game of the same name that came from Naughty Dog and spawned an additional DLC chapter, graphic novels, and a sequel game. The first game follows Joel and Ellie as they make their way across the remains of the United States in a search for the Fireflies and a potential cure. The story works very well in the video game version, so it might seem strange to add new content to the narrative for the TV series.
Why The Last Of Us’ New Content Can Work On HBO
Often when a work is being adapted for a new medium, the principal creative minds behind the adaptation are not the same ones that created the original story. However, HBO is working closely with Neil Druckmann, co-president of Naughty Dog and creator and writer of The Last of Us video games. Druckmann is not purely serving as a consultant but has written multiple episodes alongside the show’s other writer, Craig Mazin.
Not only does this mean that HBO’s The Last of Us has the original mind behind the franchise on board for the new content, it seems that content might not actually be entirely new. Rather, the content that is being added to the narrative for The Last of Us TV series will largely be made up of scenes that didn’t make it into the original game (via GamesRadar). The storytelling needs and possibilities vary between video games and a TV show, so it makes sense that some elements that were cut from the original game will be able to appear in HBO’s adaptation, and they can be expected to fit with the original vision of the franchise.
What Neil Druckmann’s “Jaw Drop” Moment Could Be
Craig Mazin has obviously revealed relatively little about what this new content for The Last of Us might include. However, he did note that when Druckmann told him about one of the moments it was a “jaw drop” for him. This suggests that the series will be adding something either visually spectacular or an element or a story about one of the characters that will be shocking to longtime fans.
While it’s hard to speculate on the exact content of such a scene, there are some more viable possibilities, and Joel and Ellie are likely to be at the center of it. With casting confirmed for Riley, this could mean a more intimate look at the experience that the two had in the period of time for the Left Behind DLC, set before The Last of Us. Alternatively, it is notable that a major set piece has been moved from Pittsburg to Kansas City, putting it much closer to Joel’s home state of Texas, and a location he might have passed through on his way to Boston. This could mean that Melanie Lynskey’s Kathleen is familiar with Pedro Pascal’s Joel and might dramatically reveal some of the darker elements of The Last of Us’ protagonist’s past.
The first episode of The Last of Us will release on HBO on January 15th.
