New photos from the set of HBO's The Last of Us showcase a game-accurate setting for the TV adaptation.Posted online by The Last of Us Updates Twitter account, the images display a post-apocalyptic and empty Boston, which has been destroyed by an infection that turned most of humanity into cannibalistic beasts. There are also several signs for the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA), which rules over the country's quarantine zones.
Filming on the 10-episode series began in July, with production on the pilot wrapping in early September. "My job here is done. I'm really grateful for the opportunity," said director Kantemir Balagov, who oversaw the show's pilot episode, after the wrap. "It was a great experience with ups & downs. Much love to the crew and especially to these people." The Canadian production is expected to cost $10 million per episode, and filming is not expected to finish until summer 2022.
Released in 2013 by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us is a survival horror game set in an apocalyptic near future. After a disease turns most of humanity into zombie-like creatures, Joel, one of the few survivors, must protect a young girl named Ellie, who is immune to the mutation and may be able to provide a cure. It is one of the best-selling video games of all time, selling over 1.3 million copies in its first week. A sequel, The Last of Us Part II, released in the summer of 2020 to record sales, along with much fanfare and controversy.
The cast of the series consists of Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) as Joel, Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) as Ellie and Gabriel Luna (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Tommy, Joel's brother. Merle Dandridge, who provided the vocals and motion-capture performance for Marlene in both the 2013 game and its 2020 sequel, will reprise her role for the premium cable TV series. Other cast members include Nico Parker (Dumbo) as Sarah, Joel's daughter, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, a rebel living in a quarantine zone, and Anna Torv (Fringe) as Tess, Joel's smuggling partner.Â
Chernobyl writer Craig Mazin and game creator Neil Druckmann are penning the scripts, while Jasmila Žbanić and Ali Abbasi will direct future episodes.
Source: Twitter