Smash hit PlayStation 3 game The Last of Us is to be turned into a movie, it’s been reported.
Released last year to widespread critical acclaim, The Last of Us was especially notable for its intense atmosphere, absorbing post-apocalyptic world, and skilful characterisation.
It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that Deadline is reporting on efforts to turn The Last of Us into a film. The report reveals that production company Screen Gems (a subsidiary of Sony) has signed up to distribute a live-action version of the game.
The Last of Us was made by Naughty Dog, which is also behind the Uncharted series of cinematic action games, and a number of its employees will be utilised in the production of the live-action The Last of Us.
Neil Druckman, who was the creative director and writer for the game, has been assigned to write the script, while several of his Naughty Dog colleagues are being brought in as "creative architects" on the project. They’ll be collaborating with Sam Raimi and his Ghost House Pictures production company to bring the project to our cinema screens.
"When I saw the quality of the storytelling, I knew the audience for this project was far greater than just the gaming community and that Neil Druckmann must write the screenplay," said Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper.
The award-winning game’s storyline concerns Joel, a middle-aged survivor, and his efforts to get 14-year-old Ellie across an America ravaged by an infectious fungal pandemic that has turned much of humanity into mindless zombies.
"Since our game released last June," reveals Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells, "we’ve talked with many companies about making a film, but we couldn’t have found better partners who share our creative vision and high standards."
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