'The Last Of Us' is the latest video game to get a Hollywood adaptation, and star Pedro Pascal is confident about the project.
The star of 'The Mandalorian' and 'Wonder Woman 1984' plays Joel in an HBO adaptation of the video game, with the series reportedly on track to become the most expensive television show of all time.
In an interview with German magazine Neelix, the Chilean star discussed the upcoming series, saying that he is "certain that fans won't be disappointed in the series".
Pascal said that filming is underway on the show, and he said "it’s so much fun and something completely new for me and a great opportunity to show my fans a different side to me.”
“I think the adaption is more than capable of competing with the game. I have absolutely no doubts that we won't disappoint fans and new viewers.”
Original game writer and director Neil Druckmann is heavily involved with the project, with Druckmann also in line to direct episodes of the series.
Druckmann is also serving as an executive producer on the show, and in an interview at South By Southwest 2021, Druckmann said that dialogue will be lifted verbatim from the game in some scenes.
Druckmann told IGN in March 2021 We talked at length that season 1 of the show is going to be the first game."
"The philosophical underpinnings of the story were the essential thing to get right about the adaptation," he added.
“As far as the superficial things, like should [a character] wear the same plaid shirt or the same red shirt? They might or might not appear in it, that’s way less important to us than getting the core of who these people are and the core of their journey.”
'Chernobyl' showrunner Craig Mazin is the showrunner for this adaptation, which also stars 'Game Of Thrones' alumni Bella Ramsay playing the role of Ellie.
'The Last Of Us' follows a man named Joel who survives a devastating pandemic outbreak that has killed 60% of the world, and must escort h Ellie, a teenage girl who is immune to the virus. across a post-apocalyptic United States.
The original 'The Last Of Us' was released in 2013 to rapturous acclaim, with the game becoming an instant best-seller and frequently appearing on "best video games of all time" lists.
The game received high praise for its story, and the show looks to expand upon the strong character work the games are known for.
"HBO’s been great in pushing us to move away from hardcore action and focus more on the drama of the character. Some of my favourite episodes so far have deviated greatly from the story, and I can’t wait for people to see them," said Druckmann.
June 2020 saw the release of the sequel 'The Last Of Us Part II' which also saw strong reviews, but its excessively dark tone was said not to have sat well with players in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and social unrest in the United States unfolding at the time of the game's release.
The TV version of 'The Last Of Us' is set to air sometime in either late 2022 or early 2023.
