The Last of Us HBO show is for some big changes from the video game

The Last of Us HBO show is for some big changes from the video game

Fans of "The Last of Us" better brace themselves, as Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann has confirmed the news that the series will have much less action.

Given the differences in media, this is not a huge surprise. The Last of Us is as much about action as it is about emotional storytelling. However, when adapted for television or film, it needs to be taken down a notch. And it's not just the action that will be adjusted; the dialogue and even the look of the characters will be changed. So be prepared to say goodbye to Joel's signature plaid shirt and jeans ensemble.

In an interview with IGN, Drachman delves into the possible contradictions between the video game and the upcoming "The Last of Us" series on HBO.

"Things stay pretty close sometimes; it's interesting to see my dialogue in the HBO scripts and in the games. And sometimes I deviate greatly to better effect.

According to Drachman, the lack of interactivity in television means that shootouts and other action sequences are less necessary. [For example, games require a lot of action, so players need to learn the mechanics. Because we don't have to train them how to use guns, we need more violence and spectacle than in a TV show, and HBO has pushed us to move away from hardcore action and focus more on the drama of the characters. Some of my favorite episodes so far have been big departures from the storyline, and I can't wait for everyone to see them."

Pedro Pascal from "The Mandalorian" has been cast as Joel and Bella Ramsey from "Game of Thrones" as Ellie. Drachman is also responding to fan expectations in that regard, commenting, "As far as superficial things like whether [the characters] should wear the same checked shirt or the same red shirt, they may or may not make an appearance. They may or may not appear. That is much less important to us than getting to the core of who these people are and the core of their journey."

If you are married to the idea of seeing actors cosplay in video games, you are probably in for a disappointment. On the plus side, Drachman foreshadows the horrors that await the infected on this show, saying, "I saw the first prosthetic test of the clicker and it was fantastic. It will be great to see this thing come to physical life." [Fortunately, the essence of the story remains true to the franchise. The first season will follow the path of the first film, and while the two may not exactly coincide, Drachman stressed that the "philosophical foundation of the story" will not go anywhere.

He declined to go into further detail to avoid spoilers, but it seems natural to adapt a video game for the small screen; Netflix did the same thing with The Witcher, which was well received by fans and new users alike, so it's not surprising that "The Last of As" when it is finally released on HBO, expect to see a similarly interesting take.

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