Game Creator Neil Druckmann Set to Direct HBO’s The Last of Us Series 

Forum 2 years ago

Game Creator Neil Druckmann Set to Direct HBO’s The Last of Us Series 

As production continues on The Last of Us series in Calgary, it has been confirmed through an updated production list from the Director’s Guild of Canada that original game director and writer Neil Druckmann has also been set to serve as one of the upcoming HBO series’ five directors. This marks Druckmann’s first major scripted series as a director, after working on 2013’s TV docufilm How Videogames Changed the World, and an episode of Syfy’s game show Face Off in 2017.

When HBO’s The Last of Us series adaptation was first announced, Druckmann was only involved in the project as a co-executive producer and co-writer along with Craig Mazin, who is also set to helm the series. The other three directors listed are Oscar nominee Jasmila Zbanic (Quo Vadis, Aida?), Kantermic Balagov (Beanpole), and Peter Hoar (Daredevil).

The Last of Us series will be led by Game of Thrones alums Pedro Pascal as Joel, and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. It is executive produced and co-written by Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and original game writer Neil Druckmann.

“The live-action series takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed,” reads the synopsis. “Joel and Ellie, a pair connected through the harshness of the world they live in, are forced to endure brutal circumstances and ruthless killers on a trek across a post-pandemic America.”

Joining Pascal and Ramsey are Gabriel Luna (Terminator: Dark Fate) as Tommy Miller, Nico Parker (Dumbo) as Joel’s daughter Sarah, Anna Torv (Mindhunter) as Tess and Merle Dandridge (The Flight Attendant) as she reprises her role in the video games as Marlene, the leader of a resistance group known as the Fireflies. It also feature Jeffrey Pierce (Bosch) as Perry, Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) as Frank, and Con O’Neill (Chernobyl) as Bill.

The live-action series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television in association with PlayStation Productions. Executive producers are Carolyn Strauss, Naughty Dog president Evan Wells and PlayStation Productions’ Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan.

Developed by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us is an action-adventure survival horror video game that has already sold more than 17 million copies worldwide. The series adaptation will tackle the events of the first game with the possibility of additional content based on the upcoming video game sequel.