Nine years after it was first announced that Sony would make a film based on the 2013 video game The Last of Us, and seven years since those plans fell through, Sony is now bringing the live-action horror survival horror game to HBO in January. 2023, with several big names involved in it including a seasoned Indonesian actress named Christine Hakim.

The Last of Us is set in 2033, 20 years after the world's population was decimated by a fungal infection of the brain that initially causes its victims to act as insane and wild as zombies, and then destroys their eyes, forcing them to use echo sounders to find other people and tear their throats. Intrigued by HBO's The Last of Us, which many people have been waiting for? Here are 6 facts about the live-action adaptation of the popular game that fans have been waiting for!

1. Adapted from a Very Popular Game

The live-action version that will air on HBO is based on a very popular game. In the story of the game The Last of Us, a tough guy who survived the disaster, Joel Miller, is hired to escort a teenager named Ellie through the desert and to several doctors who believe that Ellie might be the key to curing the plague.

As they make their way from what was then Boston to what remains of the ruins of Salt Lake City, they encounter a few figures that would be the usual denizens of a post-apocalyptic themed story. They are a bunch of creatures like infected zombies, some cannibals, some bad guys, and a giraffe who escaped from the zoo.

Although HBO's live-action version will largely follow the plot of the first game, many fans expected HBO to incorporate elements from The Last of Us Part II, which is set five years after the first game. Nonetheless, it seems more likely that HBO will pull elements from The Last of Us: Left Behind, its prequel game set before the events of the first game.

But the series is also expected to expand on the game's story, including, apparently, several elements previously cut from the game. In a July 2020 interview with BBC Sounds' "Must Watch" webcast, co-creator and writer Craig Mazin spoke of the Naughty Dog collaboration on the HBO live action series.

2. Many of the scenes are made as close to the game 

That said, The Last of Us live-action series still seems to be taking a lot of cues from the games. HBO's teaser trailers and sizzle trailers include moments that look like scenes from the game, and even use the same or game-like camera angles.

This includes shots of the chaos that ensues when the outbreak starts, one camera shot showing the city in ruins, one camera shot of Joel holding Ellie, and another one showing a survivor named Bill introducing himself. There's even one similarity to the game as well, featuring Ellie and her friend Riley, which looks a lot like a scene from The Last of Us: Left Behind.

3. Starring Famous Artists

The Last of Us cast announced so far includes several video game veterans, including a zombie-themed one whose name is familiar to many. For the role of Joel's father figure, producers chose Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian), who had the interactive experience of voicing Paolo in the 2016 game Dishonored 2, while Ellie will be played by Pascal's Game of Thrones co-star Bella. Ramsey, who voiced Freya in Doctor Who Infinity: The Dalek Invasion of Time.

Other artists joining the cast of The Last of Us include Gabriel Luna (Agent of SHIELD, Terminator: Dark Fate), who appears in the game BlackSite: Area 51. Gabriel Luna plays Joel's younger brother, Tommy. Meanwhile Anna Torv (Fringe, Mindhunter), who also voiced Nariko in the action game Heavenly Sword, and in the eponymous animated film based on the game, will play Joel's smuggling partner, Tess.

Other actors slated to appear in the series are Euphoria's Storm Reid who plays Ellie's friend Riley; Yellowjacket's Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, a new character who leads a group of revolutionaries outside Kansas City; Lamar Johnson from Dark Phoenix as Henry; Newcomer Keivonn Woodard as Sam; and Graham Green of Dances with Wolves and the Marvel Cinematic Universe show Echo, who plays Marlon who lives with his wife, Florence (Elaine Miles of Northern Exposure), in the Wyoming wilderness.

The series will even include some of the voice actors from The Last of Us games. Troy Baker (Bioshock: Infinite, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End) and Ashley Johnson (Blindspot, Critical Role), who voices Joel and Ellie, will also appear on the HBO series, although their roles have not been announced. Additionally, Bosch's Jeffrey Pierce, who voices Tommy, will have the role of Perry, a new character in the series who is portrayed as a rebel in the quarantine zone. Similarly, Merle Dandridge of Flight Attendant, who voiced Marlene in both TLoU games, will reprise her role in the HBO live-action series.

Completing the series' cast, Parks and Recreation's Nick Offerman will guest star as Bill, Chernobyl's Con O'Neill and The White Lotus' Murray Bartlett will play lone survivors in a remote town of their own, while Nico Parker from the film Dumbo will guest star as Joel's daughter Sarah.

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4. Christine Hakim played a role in it too

Veteran actress Christine Hakim has been excitedly discussed in cyberspace by Indonesian netizens. The reason is, this Indonesian actress is rumored to be participating in the creation of the HBO series based on the popular video game, The Last of Us.

This can be seen from one of the clips in the trailer, there is a figure of a seasoned Indonesian actress who has become a scientist and is looking at the cordyceps mushroom in front of her eyes.

"The Last of Us HBO Theory: The Cordyceps Brain Infection might of originated in Indonesia. In the recently released TV Spot, we see a scientist played by Indonesian actress Christine Hakim holding what looks like a fungal-lookin-thing in a lab," wrote the Twitter account @NaughtyDogInfo.

In addition, other evidence is also shown by the account. Word spread that the HBO crew had shot in the studio by building an arena as if it were in the office of the Indonesian Ministry of Health.

"About a year ago, HBO's TLOU crew were seen filming in the SAIT SENATOR BURNS building WITH Indonesian Ministry of Health equipment in the area," the Twitter post continued. Interestingly, the creator of the video game The Last of Us, Neill Druckmann, apparently followed Christine Hakim on Instagram.

5. The Series Is Developed By Some Of The Game's Staff As Well

The series will feature some of the same names as the games. Druckmann, who was the writer and co-director of the first The Last of Us (TLoU) game and the co-writer and co-director of its recently released sequel, is one of the co-creators of the live action series TLoU alongside Mazin, and may join wrote for some of the episodes, while one of the series' executive producers was Evan Wells, who is the CEO of Naughty Dog, the company that made the game The Last of Us.

Along with Druckmann and Wells, the HBO series will also feature music by Gustavo Santaolalla, who scored for both TLoU games, as well as for TV shows such as Jane the Virgin and Making a Murderer. The TLoU series will also be helmed by co-executive producer Asad Qizilbash, who worked on the film Uncharted, and has featured his name in the credits of several popular Sony games such as Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, and several God of War installments.

There were several other people working on The Last of Us who weren't employees of Naughty Dog or Sony. As in the first episode of the series, it will be directed by Kantemir Balagov, who wrote and directed the Russian drama Beanpole, with subsequent episodes directed by Ali Abbasi, writer-director of the 2018 film Border, and Jasmila Zbanic, who made the 2020 Oscar-nominated film Quo vadis, Aida?. There are reportedly two more directors to be announced for the 10-episode series of the series' first season, but the gleaning of early episodes from TLoU's acclaimed international filmmakers will certainly raise the bar.

Other staff members who may be familiar to TV lovers but not necessarily to gamers are among the executive producers of the TLoU series, including Carolyn Strauss from Game of Thrones and Chernobyl, and Rose Lam from Altered Carbon.

On the business side, the HBO series The Last of Us is produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment in association with PlayStation Productions. For your information, Sony Pictures Entertainment's other shows are Breaking Bad, The Boys, and Seinfeld. As for the relatively new PlayStation Productions, The Last of Us live-action is their first TV series, and only the second production announced after the film based on the game Naughty Dog entitled Uncharted. The film Uncharted was released in 2022. It stars Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, and Antonio Banderas, and is directed by Ruben Fleisher (Zombieland).

6. Released on HBO and HBO Max Starting January 15, 2023

Season one of The Last of Us will launch on Sunday, January 15, 2023, with the first of nine episodes available on HBO and HBO MAX. Even HBO MAX offers 4K format as a viewing option. HBO specifically referred to the installment as "season one". In that July 2020 BBC interview, Mazin said that he and Druckmann were at the time thinking about the "first cycle" of the series.

So, that's the discussion of 6 facts about HBO's The Last of Us, the famous live action game featuring Indonesian actress Christine Hakim. Do you think there are other facts from HBO's The Last of Us that haven't been discussed here? You can share them in the comments section.

FAQs about The Last of Us

When will The Last of Us season 2 air?

Currently, the official release date for The Last of Us season 2 has not been announced. However, you can stay up to date with the latest developments by following the official announcements from HBO and The Last of Us production team.

Where to watch the last of us?

The Last of Us is a series produced by HBO, so you can watch it via the HBO Max streaming service. Make sure you subscribe to HBO Max or check available streaming platforms in your area to enjoy the series.

How many episodes of the last of us?

The number of episodes that will be in The Last of Us season one is 9 episodes. Meanwhile, season two has not been officially announced. However, television series usually have several episodes in a season. Make sure you follow the latest information to find out the number of episodes that will be available in The Last of Us.

What is the last of us series about?

The Last of Us is a live action adaptation of the popular video game of the same name. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a pandemic that has turned humans into monstrous creatures. The series follows the journey of the main characters, Joel and Ellie, as they try to survive and find meaning in life amidst destruction and danger.

Is the last of us on Netflix?

No, The Last of Us is not available on the Netflix streaming platform. The series will be streamed exclusively on HBO Max. Make sure you have an HBO Max subscription or find another streaming platform that provides access to the series.

What should I know before watching The Last of Us?

Before watching The Last of Us, it's important to know that this series is based on a very popular video game with quite a deep storyline and mature themes.

If you're not familiar with the story or the gameplay, there may be some aspects that could be a new experience for you. However, HBO's The Last of Us is designed to be enjoyed by new audiences who are not familiar with video games.

Is it worth playing The Last of Us after watching the show?

While The Last of Us live action series offers an immersive experience, playing video games can also provide an extraordinary experience.

Video games have more time to develop characters and deep storylines, and offer impressive interactive gameplay. So, if you enjoyed the story and world of The Last of Us in the live action series, playing those video games could also be a worthy experience.

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