Highlights
- Fans are skeptical about the idea of a potential Bill and Frank spinoff prequel, believing it would bloat and cheapen the already perfect encapsulated story.
- The Last of Us series changed Bill and Frank's story for the better, telling it in full without overstaying their welcome and taking away from the show's overall arc.
- While a prequel may not be desired, there is interest in a spinoff series exploring the 20 years before the show's events, featuring a younger Joel, Tess, and Tommy.
The Last of Us star Nick Offerman, who played Bill in the HBO series, teased journalists with the idea of a potential Bill and Frank spinoff prequel, but fans were quick to be skeptical.
While the game heavily implied that Frank, who was dead by the time Joel reaches this chapter, was Bill's partner, the show cemented their story in a more narrowed, in-depth direction. The Last of Us show co-creator Craig Mazin wanted to expand and give more life to Bill and Frank's original story, so episode 3 of season 1, titled "Long, Long Time," focuses mainly on their relationship in the 20 years from the start of the apocalypse to the time Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) reach their town. Though The Last of Us series changed Bill and Frank's story, the episode resonated deeply with the fans, partly thanks to the actors' beautiful portrayals.
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Upon accepting an Emmy award for his performance in The Last of Us, Offerman responded to a press junket question about the potential return of Bill and Frank in any flashbacks for the upcoming season. After joking that the question is meant for someone with a higher pay grade, he said the idea was pitched. Many commenters took to the subreddit r/ThelastofusHBOseries to clarify that Offerman was joking, with the tweet sounding misleading. Fans can agree that a prequel isn't needed, believing it would bloat and cheapen an already perfect encapsulated story.
The Last of Us changed Bill and Frank's story for the better, tightly telling Bill and Frank's story in full without them overstaying their welcome with too many details that construe from the show's overall arc. Fans think there's not enough material worth dragging the characters' plots out into a season's length. Some say that if a prequel did happen, they'd watch anyway, though the possibility of seeing the pair going on "adventures of the week" seems unnecessary.
The fandom, Hollywood, and critics may enjoy Offerman's take on the character, but the fact that a prequel would ruin the whole point of the episode seems to be a major consensus. However, this doesn't rule out the total desire for a spinoff series set in The Last of Us universe. If one had the greatest potential to ease skepticism, fans look to the 20 years before the show's events, showing a younger Joel, Tess, and his brother Tommy. Gamers were interested in their past possibly being explored. However, many fans believe it's better left ambiguous.
If The Last of Us season 2 is as successful and pulls off the storytelling, the TV format could be a suitable medium to explore their background adequately as a complementary story, and this would even give Offerman the chance to return as Bill in the capacity of cameos. In the meantime, viewers can return to The Last of Us season 1 on Max while filming for season two is underway or pick up a copy of the game to see how Bill's story plays out for themselves.
The Last of Us season 1 is available on Max.
The Last Of Us
Based on Naughty Dog's popular PlayStation game, HBO's The Last of Us takes place decades after a fungal infection eradicated most of humanity. When a teenage girl named Ellie is found to be immune to the disease, Joel agrees to smuggle her across the United States.
- Release Date
- January 15, 2023
- Creator
- Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
- Main Genre
- Horror
- Network
- HBO Max
Source: Reddit/ThelastofusHBOseries, Deadline
