The Last of Us TV show recently had its premiere and game director Neil Druckmann has proudly shared this his parents "finally experienced" what he helped create. The first episode of The Last of Us won't debut publicly until January 15, but a private premiere this past Monday allowed Druckmann the opportunity to let his parents see what he's been working on. It's something that may never have happened if The Last of Us remained solely a video game.
Video game adaptations for television rarely prioritize authenticity, as Druckmann is well aware of after seeing Naughty Dog's Uncharted made into a major film. But The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin had different plans. He sought out Druckmann, who initially told Mazin no, and eventually persuaded him to co-create and co-write The Last of Us adaptation. Which is to say, The Last of Us show is authentic to Druckmann's original vision -- at least, in the ways that matter.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Druckmann admits that as proud as he is of The Last of Us game, it's not something his parents would ever get to experience. He mentions that, like many first-generation video game players, his parents "don't play video games." Adapting The Last of Us into a television show has allowed Druckmann's parents to "finally experience" what he's created, though. Druckmann took his parents to the Monday premiere.
Duckmann's parents weren't the only important people that got to see The Last of Us show's premiere. According to Druckmann, the show was also screened for the developers at Naughty Dog, too. "Hundreds" of Druckmann's colleagues at Naughty Dog watched the series debut. "They got to see their work realized, I think, to such a beautiful degree," says Druckmann. He went on to describe that some of his co-workers were even moved to tears. An animator even messaged Druckmann regarding two scenes they said were recreated shot-for-shot in the show.
For someone like Druckmann, who has invested so much of himself into both The Last of Us video game and now the TV show, it has to be a very special moment. He's been able to showcase his work across mediums not only with his parents, who may not have experienced The Last of Us without the show, and with those who helped create The Last of Us.
It won't be long before everyone can begin viewing The Last of Us, whether they be fans of the video games or those who may never have known about The Last of Us if it wasn't adapted for TV. The show's first episode debuts on the HBO Max streaming service on January 15, with an episode to debut each week after. Druckmann not only co-created the series, but co-wrote the first The Last of Us episode and directed the second.
The Last of Us premieres January 15 on HBO.