It’s safe to say that for the most part, the wrong kinds of video games are often adapted into movies. Partially the stigma is there because some of the earliest adaptations were when games were little more than platformers and the idea of transitioning one to the other just lead to some awful, awful results. That’s not saying video games are a paragon of story these days, but there are a lot more options to work with and a lot more material that makes sense to adapt.
With the critical acclaim heaped upon The Last Of Us, which debuted on the PS3 and has had a great life there as well as additional content, Screen Gems is now set to distribute a live action adaptation of it. According to Deadline, Neil Druckmann, the Creative Director for the game, will write the script. The creative architects will be Naughty Dog Co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra, as well as Druckmann and Game Director Bruce Straley and Sam Raimi and his Ghost House Pictures banner will be involved as well.
“Screen Gems’ Brian Dukes and Eric Ling brought this game to my attention insisting we go after it, and when I saw the quality of the storytelling, I knew the audience for this project was far greater than just the gaming community and that Neil Druckmann must write the screenplay,” Screen Gems President Clint Culpepper said.” I am thrilled that SCEA’s Riley Russell was able to get me in front of Neil and Evan Wells to plead my case. Sam and his team at Ghost House round out the perfect team to help realize Neil’s vision.”
Plot concept: Hardened survivor Joel teams with young and capable companion Ellie to journey through a radically transformed world some 20 years after an infectious pandemic ravages humanity.
[Source: Deadline]