A Long-Awaited Adaptation Finally Sees the Light
Credit: The Last of Us
After nearly a decade of development limbo, The Last of Us is set to premiere in 2023. The series is the brainchild of Craig Mazin, the mastermind behind HBO’s critically acclaimed Chernobyl. Interestingly, the cast features prominent Game of Thrones alumni, with Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsay as Ellie, leading the charge in this highly anticipated video game adaptation. Recent successes like The Witcher, Sonic The Hedgehog, Werewolves Within, and Arcane have proven that video game adaptations can indeed be done right.
The crucial factor is that the creator of the movie or series must have a deep understanding of the source material. The upcoming series has a significant advantage in this regard, as the president of Naughty Dog serves as an executive producer. The first season of The Last of Us will span 10 one-hour episodes, covering the first game. Based on the official trailer released earlier this year, it’s evident that Mazin and his team of writers have a firm grasp on the lore of The Last of Us. However, it’s intriguing to note that Bella Ramsey was advised not to play the video game.
Actors’ Unique Approaches to Understanding Their Characters
Credit: The Last of Us
Last year, Pascal revealed in a GQ interview that he hadn’t played the video games himself. Although he attempted to play the first Last of Us, he ultimately handed the controller to his nephew and watched him play for a few hours. Pascal explained that he didn’t want to get too attached to the video game character while filming the TV show version. However, the 47-year-old actor wanted to watch enough gameplay to get a sense of who Joel is and the world he inhabits.
For any actor, research is as crucial as the performance itself, as it’s essential to understand the character being portrayed. Ramsey has watched some gameplay to better comprehend Ellie, but she was explicitly told not to play the video game. In an interview with USA Today, she said, ‘I was actually encouraged not to [play the game]. After my audition, they asked me, ‘Have you played it?’ And I said, ‘Nope,’ and they said, ‘Keep it that way.’ I did watch some of the gameplay on Youtube just to get a sense of it.’
It’s understandable that the creators didn’t want Ramsay to play the games, as actors can become overly engrossed in the mannerisms and nature of the character. While it’s crucial for Ramsay to know who Ellie is and not stray too far from what made her such a beloved character, she also needs some creative freedom to make Ellie feel authentic onscreen. The 19-year-old actress seems excited about what’s to come, as the series has been a significant part of her life over the past year:
Anticipation Builds for The Last of Us Series
Credit: The Last of Us
‘But I’m so excited for it to come out,’ she said. ‘It was such a big part of my life. I shot for a whole year, which is quite a long time when you’ve only lived for 19 years. Pedro wrote a little card to me at the end, saying, ‘How interesting that something so huge and life-changing should happen so early in your life and so late in mine.’ I thought it was a really sweet observation, and I just had the best time.’
We’ll soon see how the long-awaited video game adaptation unfolds on HBO. So far, all the pieces of the puzzle for a strong series have been assembled; let’s hope The Last of Us lives up to its promising start.
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