Ever since The Last of Us was announced to have a live-action HBO series in the works, fans wondered how faithful it would be to Naughty Dog’s seminal game franchise. Much has been kept under wraps about the show, though myriad set photos revealed familiar outfits, locations, and ambiance from the game. HBO recently released a seconds-long teaser with a glimpse at some harrowing moments from The Last of Us, with dialogue revealed to echo that of Joel’s in one of the game’s most emotional scenes.
Today, fans were excited to hear about anything related to The Last of Us as it is indeed The Last of Us Day. Naughty Dog typically launches new merchandise in its PlayStation-affiliated store online, and it has done so again today. But among the consumer memorabilia, the most substantial content arrived with a full-length trailer for HBO’s The Last of Us. The show looks remarkably faithful to the game, and there are many moments it recreates that fans can compare and contrast to scenes in The Last of Us Part 1.
The Last of Us Part 1’s Opening in Boston
The trailer opens on a shot from behind Joel in a denim shirt as he walks through a surprisingly populated Boston street. This is where The Last of Us Part 1 opens after its traumatic prologue, and Joel is now a hardened and aged smuggler. FEDRA warnings and curfew signage is in full view, with Boston residents painting deliberately over Firefly graffiti. This sequence in the game establishes tone, such as how FEDRA and most citizens perceive the Fireflies.
As mentioned, the show depicts many more people in the street than The Last of Us Part 1 does, which may suggest that FEDRA has a more relaxed mandate on citizens during the day, and fans may not be seeing public executions as they did in the game. A disaster ensues later in the trailer that seems to mirror the explosion caused by Fireflies, but Tess’ panic is much more palpable in the show as she is seen holding her head in her hands.
Ellie’s Capture at the Hands of David
The camera pans across the floor with a long chain connected to Ellie’s ankle. The trailer then cuts to a shot of Ellie peering through what appears to be a window, which is perhaps the same window that she and The Last of Us’ David look out through on the pedway after they are cornered by runners, clickers, and a bloater. Later, Joel holds Ellie, whose face is caked in blood. This is almost assuredly recreating the scene where Joel finds Ellie after she has killed David.
Pittsburgh’s Skeleton Crew
An armored hunter can be seen shining a huge spotlight side-to-side, as one does identically in The Last of Us Part 1’s Pittsburgh chapter. In this sequence, Joel and Ellie have already met Henry and Sam and are stealthily making their way through to a radio tower somewhere in the suburbs.
In The Last of Us Part 1, this sequence is followed by Henry and Sam abandoning Joel and Ellie for their own safety, while Joel and Ellie are closely pursued before nearly drowning in the waters below a collapsed bridge. It will be interesting to see how much of this sequence is recreated in the show. Also from Pittsburgh, the trailer shows the hunters’ intimidating humvee with the word “Run” painted on its front. Before all this occurs, the chapter's introductory roadside ambush seems to take place as Joel and Ellie crash their truck through glass.
Joel, Tess, and Ellie Escaping Boston
Joel, Tess, and Ellie can be seen in one of the same claustrophobic sewer tunnels that players crouch through numerous times. A spotlight or vehicle headlight searches the area and illuminates the tunnel. The camera then pans upward at a darkened city landscape, with The Last of Us’ iconic skyscrapers toppled and leaning on one another. This set piece is paramount as it establishes the environment where players first discover Clickers, and is where Joel, Ellie, and Tess will encounter them in the show as they make their way through Boston.
Indeed, later in the trailer, fans see the trio quietly standing behind glass opposite a clicker, emulating one of the many stealth sequences in The Last of Us Part 1. This is also after Joel and Tess learn that Ellie is immune to the Cordyceps brain infection, which will surely be an exciting scene to watch in the show. Tess is seen once more in the Capitol building.
Bill Rescues Joel and Possibly Monitors Surveillance
It is not fully clear from the trailer, but a figure who could potentially be Nick Offerman’s Bill is seen from behind in a dark room as they watch what looks like security camera footage on several monitors. The character’s face is clasped in their hands, possibly from their horror at the sight they are looking at.
Later, a genuine look at The Last of Us’ Bill is shown as he looks down at someone in a hole that Bill himself likely dug as a trap. It is unclear if Joel is the character raising his hands in surrender as Bill aims a rifle at him. But if the show is following the events of the game as closely as it seems, this may be how they encounter one another, instead of having Joel hanging upside down with a refrigerator as a counterweight.
Ellie and Riley’s Prologue from Left Behind
Ellie reads a bloodied message on the wall that reads, “When you’re lost in the darkness.” In the Left Behind DLC, Ellie and Riley come across the latter half of this message, as well as a large Firefly logo that contributes to one of The Last of Us Part 1’s optional conversations. Of course, these propaganda messages are everywhere, and this one in particular could be from another point in the show. However, much later in the trailer, Ellie and Riley’s narrative is explicitly represented as they are seen riding the carousel that they activate with a backup generator’s lever.
Joel and Sarah’s Prologue at the Start of the Outbreak
As seen previously in HBO’s original teaser clip, The Last of Us Part 1’s devastating prologue is closely adapted. Joel is seen carrying an injured Sarah in his arms as he rushes to get out of the streets. Fire lines each street and building interior, illuminating Joel. The street shown in this full-length trailer features a single infected individual rising from a horde that is busy chewing on survivors, which Joel may be able to free from with the aid of his brother Tommy. Before this occurs, Joel can be seen backing up the truck into the chaotic street where pedestrians are running around, fleeing The Last of Us’ infected enemies and explosions.
HBO’s The Last of Us airs in 2023.