With its more recent high levels of controversy due to the events that played out within The Last Of Us Part 2, players familiar with both titles are excited to learn how HBO will portray certain circumstances that play out in the games. As recent images and teasers have been showcased, it is clear to many that The Last Of Us HBO will be going along with a like-for-like style of portrayal, containing many popular scenes from the first game.
Despite the lack of confirmation, the controversial events and characters found throughout The Last Of Us Part 2 seem almost certain to be present based on Neil Druckmann's comments on the cast. Series fans will also be hoping that these iconic ideas and moments will also be making their way into the HBO show.
7 Joel And Ellie Dynamic
Many fans who are aware and knowledgeable about the series will know that the evolution of Joel Miller and Ellie Williams' relationship throughout The Last Of Us Part 1 and the flashbacks featured in Part 2 are one of the more pivotal factors which make the series what it is. From Joel starting more standoffish toward Ellie to becoming more open and finally seeing her as a surrogate daughter, it serves the purpose of providing fans with an engaging emotional story.
If the live adaptation can depict this in any form possible or even to a greater extent, especially with the flexibility the cast has, it would be much more befitting considering its nature and the omission of fans' usual interaction or control of the characters.
6 Brutality
Given the mature rating of shows featured on HBO such as Game Of Thrones, it is more likely for the level of realism and violence to be present within the show. The games are known to feature the sense of every person for themselves within multiple sections, and if fans are to go by what has been showcased so far, they can expect to see this in the show.
With the release of The Last Of Us Part 2 came controversy. A lot of people hated some of the story choices, but many also believed that the violence on display was much more realistic and gory than before. Whether this will be toned down or maintained within the live-action adaptation remains to be seen.
5 Intense Survival Moments
In the midst of all of the survival horror games, The Last Of Us series is often recognized as one of the more top-tier titles particularly due to the tense moments where players must evade "Clickers" and the rest of the infected.
The depiction of this within the HBO show has the potential to be done in greater quality and give viewers the sense that Joel and Ellie are only barely able to escape life or death scenarios. With the help of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, the likelihood of fans' appreciation of this is high.
4 Ambushes
As the characters in the series are placed in a post-apocalyptic world, encounters with other humans are not so friendly and easy-going. Many of the themes displayed in The Last Of Us Part 1 promote the idea of survival of the fittest and characters ensuring their own safety before others. This is present in the scenario in which Joel and Ellie are ambushed by strangers, after their attempt at tricking the pair.
The levels of intensity here can be amped up to a greater extent and has the opportunity to resonate with viewers even more so than it did in the games. As The Last Of Us Part 1 and 2 are narrative-based games similar to Naughty Dog's other major IP Uncharted, the chances of this being a successful live-action adaptation are much higher than usual.
3 Soundtrack/OST
Upon hearing the soundtrack made by Gustavo Santaolalla, many gamers would instantly be able to identify its origin, as The Last Of Us Series' OST is one of the more iconic in gaming. Given Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog's contribution and permission for the show's production, fans will hope that this will be present.
This would go hand in hand with the release of The Last Of Us Part 1 remake, which would ultimately benefit those who are new and unfamiliar with the story by providing two mediums of consumption, whilst potentially increasing the possibility of future projects by Naughty Dog based on its reception.
2 Clicker And Runner Aggressiveness
The terrifying moments in both Last Of Us titles contain the infected and for the most part the "Clickers." Players who have played both campaigns on much harder difficulties will be aware of how scary it is to maneuver around these enemies without making too much noise, whilst "Runners" are also blended into the mix who can see, unlike their counterparts.
As more reveals for the show are set in the lead-up to its eventual release in 2023, fans will hope to see more attention paid to the behavior of these enemies and how lore accurate they may potentially be.
1 Last Of Us Left Behind Flashbacks
After the initial release of The Last Of Us on PlayStation 3, Naughty Dog followed this up with an addition of the Left Behind DLC. This was integral to players gaining much more of an understanding of Ellie's adventures, relationships, and encounters before crossing paths with Joel.
The inclusion of this will not only help newcomers but will also help to flesh out the character to her fullest extent. There is also an opportunity for an expansion on this given the longer runtime, and, in order to keep the show at a good pace, it would be best for HBO to do this using flashbacks.
The Last Of Us HBO is scheduled for release in 2023.