The Last of Us: the creator of the series explains the differences with the video game

Less than 10 days from the start of its broadcast, the series The Last of Us maintains the mystery and knows how to intelligently tickle our expectations. Co-creator Craig Mazin explained that the series would move away from the video game on several points, and for good reasons.

Warning, this article contains some minor spoilers on the plot of the series The Last of Us.

An epidemic postponed for 10 years

Craig Mazin, winner of two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Series Chernobyl (2019), brought his expertise of apocalyptic events to this HBO-produced adaptation. Far from a simple copy-paste of the plot, he wanted to create a series that extends the universe of the original Naughty Dog video game. An approach that involves a multiplication of flashbacks and different points of view on the epidemic.

Like the one, for example, of the scientist who discovers the fungal infection that will decimate humanity. An event that was not shown in the games: “Not only is it scary to hear the scientist say it’s over, but the moment she accepts it, and being able to see the drama on her face, is something unique for this adaptation, and I’m so glad we can show it off. […] The more we can make what happens around it feel real, the more real the heart of the story will be.”

Another detail that differs with this adaptation: the chronology of events. If in the game, the epidemic begins in 2013 with a plot taking place in 2023, Craig Mazin and co-creator and co-screenwriter Neill Druckmann (also author and director of the games) have decided to postpone everything for 10 years. The epidemic is thus triggered in 2003, and the main plot of the series takes place in our time, in 2023.

“If I watch a show in 2023 and it’s set in 2043, it’s just a little less real. […] It was just about helping people connect a little more. […] What’s interesting is that as we go through the series, we keep finding new locations and new relics of the old world, returning to that 2003 vibe.”explains Mazin.

As a reminder, the series The Last of Us tells the story of an epidemic caused by a fungus that has ravaged civilization, turning humans into violent “infected”. Twenty years later, the disillusioned Joel accepts a dangerous mission: to take the young Ellie across the United States, to a safe place.

An invitation on the set

To help us wait, HBO has also unveiled a making-of of the series, which can be discovered below:

• Watch the “Invitation to Set” featurette:

With the end of the historic agreement between OCS and HBO on January 1, it is not yet known where the series The Last of Us will be broadcast in France. Some rumors indicate that it could be available on Amazon Prime Video, but nothing is certain. More information should arrive next week.

The first season of The Last of Us is comprised of nine episodes, which will air weekly starting January 15.