HBO's 'The Last Of Us' Isn't Coming This Year After All

It feels like we’re getting so many games-to-screen adaptations lately, doesn’t it? Uncharted dropped in UK cinemas last Friday, and we also just found out that the Halo TV series has been confirmed for a second season, before the first one has even aired. The adaptation that’s getting arguably the most hype online though is HBO’s upcoming The Last of Us series.

In case you weren’t familiar, the series is set to follow the plot of the 2013 game, in which Joel must escort Ellie across America to bring her to the Fireflies, with the hope of finding a cure for the Cordyceps virus that’s thrown the world into chaos. Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) is set to play Joel, and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) has been cast as Ellie. 

There's no doubt that The Last of Us was brilliantly written - in fact, we think it has one of the best opening sequences in gaming. Check it out, along with our other picks, below.

Many fans had been hoping that the show might grace our screens sometime this year, but it’s now been confirmed that isn’t going to be the case. In an interview with Deadline, HBO and HBO Max's chief content officer, Casey Bloys, revealed it’s going to be at least next year before it airs.

“It’s not going to air in 2022 — they are still shooting in Canada. I imagine you will see it in [20]23,” he said. “I have seen some early episodes and I’m very excited. […] Craig [Mazin] did Chernobyl for us, he is a fantastic writer and director. What I’ve seen looks amazing, so I’m excited for it, but it will not be in [20]22.”

Of course, HBO is renowned for a number of iconic series, but perhaps most notably, Game of Thrones. Bloys was quick to shut down the idea that The Last of Us could rival that, though: “There is no next Game of Thrones,” he said. “I’ve been here long enough that I’ve been through, what’s the next Sopranos, what’s [the] next Game of Thrones, now what’s [the] next Succession. There is no next Game of Thrones.” 

The series is being produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the latter of which is the director and writer for the 2013 game. Druckmann will also be directing at least one episode of the series, so you know that’s going to be good. We’re yet to see a proper trailer for the adaptation, and given it’s still being filmed, it’s probably going to be a while before we see it yet. Good things come to those who wait though, eh?