Video games are one of the purest forms of art in which the creators let other people enjoy the work by actually making them a part of it. The industry is leaping forward exponentially, and the stories that they have created are sometimes more meaningful since you are more attached to it than a movie or a song. It is one of the many reasons why some of the films have been turned into games and vice versa. We have video games related to Avengers, which is one of the biggest movie franchises in Hollywood.
On the other hand, the idea of a TV show based on the books (short stories and Novels series) by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher, was presented after the huge success of The Witcher 3 game by CD Projekt Red.
The series released in December was hugely popular among the fans of the book series and video game series. Additionally, it led more people into books and games, leading to an almost 500% increase in the sales of The Witcher 3. The game hit its highest number of players five years after its initial release. It also drove the stock prices of CDPR studios, making it the 2nd biggest European studio, which is now worth more than $8 billion.
Netflix has started the trend, and the Home box office (HBO) followed suit. In an exclusive report by The Hollywood reporter, they announced that they are turning the Last of Us into a TV series, which will air on HBO. The Last of Us is one of the most significant projects of Naughty Dog studios. The original game was released on PlayStation 3, and a remastered version was ported on PlayStation4. The survival horror game was praised for its story, characterization, and a new take on a post-apocalyptic world.
It was crowned to be the Game of the Year in 2013. The game also set a record of the highest number of awards by any game at that time, which was over 200. Witcher 3, a game that was released after two years, broke the record. Regardless, the Last of Us was called the best game on the PS3 platform. The sequel of the game called The Last of Us 2 will release on May 29, 2020.
.@HBO gives series order to #TheLastOfUs. @clmazin and @Neil_Druckmann set to write and executive produce. Carolyn Strauss, @evan_wells, @aqizil, and @CarterSwan also executive produce. @SPTV, @Naughty_Dog, @PlayStation productions are set to produce: https://t.co/dIOCovjGqK pic.twitter.com/tOsuWFwklR
— HBO PR (@HBOPR) November 20, 2020
Coming to the report, Craig Mazin, the creative director of series Chernobyl, was given the task to adapt the game into series. The writer and creative director of the game series Neil Druckmann will also be a part of the series. Even Walls (president of Naughty Dog) and Carolyn Strauss will serve as the executive producers of the series. The project will be co-produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with PlayStation Productions. It will also be the first series under the PlayStation productions. We may see more game adaptations from PlayStation productions in the future.
The series will be based on the original game, while there is a possibility that the content from the sequel will be added afterward. Mazin released a statement yesterday, “Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus. Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus,”
The project is at a pre-incubation state. We’ll get back to you once more information is publicized. Another franchise called The Uncharted from the Naughty Dog is also getting adapted into a movie. Though the project has taken many turns and stops, the film is set to release either December this year or in January next year. Tom Holland will play Nathan Drake, the protagonist, and Mark Wallburg will appear as Victo Sullivan, who is his partner and mentor.