One of the most critically-acclaimed and commercially successful games of the PlayStation 3, The Last Of Us, is due for a big-screen adaptation. Sam Raimi's production company, Ghost House Pictures, have lined up to produce while Screen Gems have agreed to distribute. The game's original writer, Neil Druckman, will be writing the script and other members of the Naughty Dog creative team will be as consultants on the production.
It's early days yet, but no casting or directors have been attached. It's unlikely that Raimi himself will be involved with direction, given how he dropped out of the World of Warcraft project. Our choice? We'd like to see someone who has a genuine love and understanding of videogames. Duncan Jones is the logical choice, but considering he's busy with the aforementioned World of Warcraft film, he's out.
Initial thoughts? Look, there has NEVER been a half-decent videogame-film adaptation. The reasons for this are numerous, but it's primarily down to the fact that there hasn't really been a videogame that can transfer over. Doom? Super Mario Bros.? Resident Evil, we had high hopes for until Paul W.S. Anderson went at it. The Last of Us could be something. After all, it's no secret that the big film studios are buying up videogame properties whenever they can as they're keen to make it the next 'comic-book film' genre.