Naughty Dog has become one of the most beloved video game developers in recent memory. Their games aren’t just fun, they tell engaging, emotional stories that feel real, raw, and relatable. One of the best Naughty Dog games of the last few years is The Last of Us. Although rumors have long persisted that The Last of Us will receive a big screen adaptation, now it seems that the project has gone dark.
Speaking with IGN about the potential film adaptation for the modern video game classic, The Last of Us game director Neil Druckmann offered some disappointing news about the film’s future.
I know I said in an interview a while back we had a table read, got the script to a good place and it kind of entered development hell like these things tend to do. There hasn’t been any work done on it in over a year and a half.
So it seems that while some earnest work was done towards getting the film off of the ground, it ultimately has not materialized in any meaningful way. A script for The Last of Us film adaptation did get written, and even had a table read, but beyond that nothing new has occurred over the last 18 months.
Video game adaptations don’t exactly have the best track record in Hollywood. They tend to range mediocre and forgettable (Doom) to the downright deplorable (Hitman: Agent 47), with a diamond in the rough showing up once a generation if we’re lucky.
That being said, if any recent video game has a shot at greatness on the silver screen, we would be more than willing to put money on The Last of Us. A post-apocalyptic story set in the ruins of the modern world, The Last of Us tells a very accessible yet fantastical story about love, family, and survival in the face of a zombie-like, fungal apocalypse. Between the game’s gripping, cinematic story, and its absolutely perfect performances, it could easily be turned into a movie with minimal changes made to its style or narrative.
Honestly, just watch the opening few minutes of The Last of Us and tell me you don’t want to see the story of Joel brought to life on the silver screen.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that no Naughty Dog games have a chance of becoming movies. Although news regarding The Last of Us movie has gone quiet, an adaptation of Uncharted has been in development for sometime, and is currently slated for a June 30, 2017 release.
We will keep you posted regarding any and all details related to a potential adaptation of The Last of Us as they become available to us. Be sure to keep your fingers crossed that this project finally comes to fruition and stay tuned for more details!
