The Last of Us: The potential for innovation and creativity in the intersection of gaming and film/television.
"The Last of Us" is a series that is based on a video game. What is the secret behind its success?
It was once unimaginable that video games, regardless of their popularity or storytelling, could serve as the inspiration for a television series. However, British critic Stephen Kelly considers "The Last of Us" a remarkable achievement. The series premiered on the HBO platform on January 15, and is based on the eponymous 2013 video game that has gained popularity among audiences and critics.
As soon as the first episode aired, the series attracted 4.7 million viewers. The following day, it had 10 million viewers, and by the end of the week, it had 18 million viewers. Currently, the first episode has surpassed 22 million viewers, and the series has climbed to the 29th position on the IMDb's list of the best 250 series. Critics have hailed it as "one of the best shows to watch this year."
Less than two weeks after the first season's nine episodes, the creators announced a second season. According to Entertainment Weekly (EW), they stated, "We are pleased to announce that we will be doing a second season."
The success of "The Last of Us" series can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, the video game on which the show is based has a massive following, and its storyline is compelling. The show creators have also done an excellent job of adapting the game's story into a television format, which has resulted in a captivating and visually stunning production.
Additionally, the show features an exceptional cast, with actors Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey taking the lead roles. The show's creators also include Craig Mazin, who is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed Chernobyl series, and Neil Druckmann, who was the writer and creative director of the video game.
The show's impressive ratings and glowing reviews have undoubtedly played a role in the decision to renew the show for a second season. Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the second season, which is currently in production and expected to air in 2023.
"The Last of Us" series has become a huge success due to its exceptional storyline, incredible production, talented cast, and critical acclaim. Its popularity among fans and critics alike has resulted in the renewal of the show for a second season, which is sure to be as captivating as the first.
Amazing and guaranteed success:
Those who follow the international art scene will notice the stunning success of film and television directors who have attempted to adapt famous video games. This trend started with the 2018 release of "Detective Pikachu," which garnered worldwide fame under the "Pokémon" franchise. American director Rob Letterman transformed it into a 104-minute fantasy comedy film in 2019, titled "Pokémon: Detective Pikachu," which earned 10 awards and generated three times its cost. It earned around $450 million in revenue against a $150 million budget.
Another successful adaptation was the 1991 Japan's leading video game series Sonic the Hedgehog, which was regarded as representative of the culture of the nineties and listed among the greatest games of all time. It grossed more than $6 billion and became a top seller until 2022. American director Jeff Fowler transformed it into a series of action, adventure, and comedy films, with two parts released in 2020 and 2022. The films won a total of 5 awards and were nominated for 15 awards, with estimated revenues of $725 million against a budget of $185 million. Fowler is expected to release the third part in 2024.
The latest successful adaptation is a horror, adventure, and survival video game that sold 37 million copies and won 320 awards in the gaming industry. It has been described as the best video game adaptation ever by Kelly.
This latest adaptation, titled "The Last of Us," has now become the talk of the town. The television series is based on the popular video game of the same name and has already attracted millions of viewers worldwide. It features an exceptional cast and crew, including Craig Mazin, known for his work on the critically acclaimed Chernobyl series, and Neil Druckmann, the game's writer and creative director.
The success of these video game adaptations can be attributed to several factors, including the popularity of the source material and the skillful adaptation of the story to a different medium. These adaptations have also brought new life to beloved characters and worlds, expanding their reach to new audiences and creating new opportunities for storytelling.
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve and adapt, it will be interesting to see what new video game adaptations will capture the attention of audiences worldwide. With the success of "The Last of Us" and other adaptations, it's clear that the intersection of gaming and film/television is a fruitful one that holds great potential for innovation and creativity.
Creativity Quotation:
"The Last of Us" is a series co-created by Neil Druckmann, the original game's creator, and Craig Mazen, the creator of the 2019 series "Chernobyl". The story follows a man and a teenage girl as they travel across the United States during an apocalyptic disaster caused by cannibal organisms infected with a mutated fungus called Cordyceps. This disaster, combined with a climate crisis, has killed billions of people over 20 years.
In an interview with The New Yorker, Druckmann attributed his success to his sincere commitment to the original story. The characters are depicted with astonishing depth, in an atmosphere of darkness, violence, slowness, gloom, and dread. This closely resembles prestigious television and film icons like the Queen brothers' masterpiece, No Country for Old Men.
Surviving humans are turned into rabid monsters by the mutated fungus, which spreads from the brain to all parts of the body. These monsters haunt many survivors, including Joel Miller, a Texas construction worker in his fifties, who lost his daughter after desperate attempts to keep her safe in the chaotic state of Texas collapsed under the weight of the outbreak.
Joel is accompanied by 14-year-old teenager Ellie Williams, who is immune to infection and is referred to as "the savior the world is looking for," according to critic Rebecca Nicholson. One of the keys to the work's success, according to critic Richard Newby, is "providing a different experience than one can get from playing the game, while appealing to both gamers and non-gamers, as well as those who love this type of (zombie) and those who are tired of it."
Ellie, who hijacks every scene she appears in:
According to critic James Ponyziek, the "super-glittering zombie series" appeared to focus primarily on Ellie's character (played by British actress Bella Ramsay). Ellie first appeared as Lyanna Mormon in the sixth season of Game of Thrones in 2016. Critic Andy Welch described Ellie as "a perfect and contradictory combination of innocence, naivety and intelligence." Meanwhile, Kelly viewed Ellie as "a charming little horror, full of charisma, courage, wit, and warmth," who stole every scene she was in.
Ellie's character served as the "perfect compass" for Pedro Pascal's performance. Pascal, a U.S.-born Chilean actor, played O'Brien Martel in the fourth season of Game of Thrones in 2014. Kelly praised Pascal's performance, noting that he played Joel, a rude and troubled man dehumanized by grief and buried under heaps of irony and violence. Over the course of the series, Joel softened and melted. Kelly attributes this change in Joel's personality to the influence of "Ellie's girl," whom Joel was tasked with handing over to a revolutionary militia seeking to topple the Phedra Disaster Management Agency. This agency ruled with an iron fist, and the militia hoped to use Ellie's immunity to develop a vaccine against the Cordyceps variant and restore democracy.
As the series progressed, Ellie's character became more central to the plot. Her immunity was the key to developing a vaccine that could save humanity from the Cordyceps outbreak. However, she faced numerous challenges and threats from various factions who sought to exploit her immunity for their own gain.
The danger, Ellie remained resilient and determined, embodying the qualities that Kelly admired in her. Meanwhile, Joel struggled with his conscience as he grew increasingly attached to Ellie, leading to a dramatic showdown between the two characters.
The series concluded with the ultimate sacrifice that Ellie made to save humanity from the Cordyceps outbreak. Her courage and selflessness inspired others to fight for a better world, and her legacy lived on long after the final episode.
The "super-glittering zombie series" was a remarkable achievement that captivated audiences with its compelling characters, intricate plot, and stunning visuals. It showcased the talents of Bella Ramsay, Pedro Pascal, and the rest of the cast and crew, cementing their place in the annals of television history.
Conclusion :
"The Last of Us" is a television series based on a video game that has gained immense popularity among audiences and critics. The success of the show can be attributed to its captivating storyline, exceptional production, talented cast, and critical acclaim. The series has been renewed for a second season, which is expected to air in 2023. The article also discusses the trend of successful video game adaptations, citing examples such as "Detective Pikachu" and "Sonic the Hedgehog.
