The Last of Us is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO. Based on the 2013 video game developed by Naughty Dog, the series follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across a post-apocalyptic United States. It features Gabriel Luna as Joel’s younger brother Tommy, Merle Dandridge as resistance leader Marlene, and Anna Torv as Joel’s smuggler partner Tess.
The Last of Us, said to be the largest television production in Canadian history, was filmed in Alberta from July 2021 to June 2022. It is the first HBO series based on a video game, and is a joint production by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, the Mighty Mint, and Word Games. The first season consists of nine episodes written by Druckmann, who wrote and co-directed the original game, and Mazin. The score was composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, who composed for the game, and David Fleming. The series began airing on January 15, 2023. It received acclaim from critics, who praised the performances, writing, production design, and score; several considered it the best live-action adaptation of a video game.
