Here’s everything we know about the TV adaptation of The Last of Us. If you’d like to know more about another game-related series, then take a look at our roundup of The Witcher season 3.
The Last of Us series release date
The Last of Us is rolling out episodes now in the US and UK. US viewers can tune in every Sunday at 9pm ET/6pm PT on HBO and HBO Max. UK viewers get new episodes every Monday on Sky Atlantic/Now. They can either watch it in the evening at 9pm GMT, or stay up late the night before and tune in at 2am GMT, the same time that the show airs in the United States. The series will have nine episodes in total.
The Last of Us trailer
In the latest trailer, we get a look at Ellie’s immunity from the virus, and a glimpse at some scenes that seem to be taken from the The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC. Plus, at the end there is an appearance from the Bloater: There is also a still of Joel and Ellie on the set, which could be mistaken for a screengrab from the videogame. Take a look below:
Who will star in The Last of Us series?
Joel will be played by Pedro Pascal, best known for The Mandalorian, whilst Ellie will be played by Bella Ramsey, best known for Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones (via Deadline). Also joining the cast is Merle Dandridge, who will be playing the role of Marlene. This is quite notable as Dandridge also played the role in the video game, and a casting such as this is very rare. Considering that Dandridge was used for motion capture in the game, fans will be pleased to see the actress portray the character in real life, and it may pave the way for other game voice actors to have further opportunities. But Dandridge isn’t the only game alumni in the cast. Jeffrey Pierce, the voice of Tommy, is joining the show. However, Pierce will be playing a different role in the show – a new regular character called Perry who is described as “a rebel in a quarantine zone.” Murray Bartlett will play Frank, a minor character who Ellie and Joel encounter in Lincoln, Massachusetts. He is a former associate of Joel who lives in a deserted town. Frank lives with another character called Bill, who originally was supposed to be played by Con O’Neill. However, he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Now, the role will be played by former Parks and Recreation star, Nick Offerman. Neil Druckmann implied in The Official The Last of Us podcast that Frank and Bill used to be in a relationship, so this could be something that is explored more in the series. Anna Torv – best known for Mindhunter – is also joining the cast. Variety reports that she’ll play Tess, Joel’s partner in crime before he sets out across the country with Ellie. Melanie Lynskey will be portraying a brand new character called Kathleen, a “ruthless leader of a revolutionary movement in Kansas City”. The show will be written by the co-creator and director of the games, Neil Druckmann, along with Craig Mazin, the creator of Chernobyl. Carolyn Strauss and Evan Wells will serve as executive producers – Strauss also worked on Chernobyl and Wells is president of Naughty Dog, the production company behind the games. Druckmann, Mazin and Peter Hoar will all be directing episodes in the first season. HBO is collaborating with Sony Pictures Television in association with PlayStation Productions on this, making it the first show from PlayStation Productions. The show’s music will be composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, the same composer from the games.
What is the plot of The Last of Us?
The Hollywood Reporter states that the show will be based on the events of the first game. The latest trailer also revealed that there will be flashbacks that will cover the events from The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC. If you’ve never played The Last of Us, it follows Joel and Ellie as they work together to make their way across the United States, which has been devastated by a modern fungal plague that infected most of the population, turning them into zombie-esque monsters. The two are searching for a resistance group to find a cure for the pandemic, but unsurprisingly things aren’t quite that simple.
How to watch The Last of Us TV series
The Last of Us series is being developed by HBO, so it will air on HBO cable channels, and the flexible streaming service HBO Max. This costs $9.99 per month for ad-supported viewing, and $14.99 per month for ad-free.
The UK doesn’t yet have HBO, but the show will be syndicated the following day after it airs in the US on Sky Atlantic and Now, as other HBO productions have. Now’s Entertainment membership costs £9.99 per month, and new subscribers might be able to take advantage of a deal.
Hannah Cowton is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor and Macworld, working across entertainment, consumer technology and lifestyle. Her interests and specialities lie in streaming services, film and television reviews and rumours, gaming, wearables and smart home products. She’s also the creator of The London Geek, a geek culture and lifestyle blog.
