Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Here’s why ‘The Last Of Us’ movie is stalled, according to Sam Raimi

the last of us movie stalled sam raimi thelastofus 0001
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It’s been a while since we had any updates on the movie version of The Last Of Us, Sony Pictures’ big-screen adaptation of the award-winning, post-apocalyptic survival game, and the latest news on that front isn’t going to inspire much confidence in the project making the leap from game console to movie screen.

Back in April, Neil Druckmann — the game’s director and the screenwriter for the film — indicated that the adaptation was in “development hell” for various reasons. Sam Raimi, who serves as a producer on the film, has now offered some hints as to why the project stalled out.

“Well, unfortunately that one — when we went to Neil with Ghost House Pictures we were hoping to get the rights like we do any project and then we’d take it out and sell it but we’d control the rights,” explained Raimi, who was asked about the status of The Last Of Us by IGN during a recent press event for the thriller Don’t Breathe, which he also produced. “With this one he went to Sony, who I have a very good relationship with, but they have their own plans for it and I think Neil’s plan for it … I’m not trying to be political, [but] Neil’s plan for it is not the same as Sony’s.”

Raimi then explained why he’s not able to exert any influence on the project’s movement through the development cycle.

“Because my company doesn’t have the rights, I actually can’t help him too much,” he continued. “Even though I’m one of the producers on it the way he set it up, he sold his rights to Sony, Sony hired me as a producer by chance, and I can’t get the rights free for him so I’m not in the driver’s seat and I can’t tell you what Sony and Neil together will decide on. If they do move forward I’d love to help them again.”

The Last Of Us follows a pair of survivors — a gruff, battle-weary older man and a young, capable girl — on their journey through a world ravaged by an infectious disease that turns humans into terrifying creatures. The game’s premise was inspired by real-world diseases, and was critically acclaimed for the way it handled the themes of survival, loyalty, morality, and redemption over the course of the duo’s adventure.

Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams was previously reported to be a leading contender to play the young girl Ellie in the film, but the project’s uncertain status has likely eliminated that possibility.

There’s currently no timetable for The Last Of Us to move along in the development cycle.

Editors' Recommendations

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
The Last of Us season 1 episodes, ranked
Ellie and Joel look sweetly at each other in The Last of Us.

HBO's sensation The Last of Us ended its first season with a bang. The show began airing in January, quickly becoming the most talked-about series on television and a worthy successor to HBO's now-iconic Sunday night lineup. Led by Game of Thrones breakouts Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay, the show adapts Naughty Dog's universally beloved game about a smuggler escorting a teenager across a ravaged, postapocalyptic America. Haunted by infected mutants, government officials, and other lawless characters, the two form an intimate and powerful bond as they try to survive.

The first season remained stellar throughout its nine episodes, delivering compelling, thought-provoking, and thematically rich narratives that strengthened the source material's already extensive lore. Each episode in The Last of Us was a brilliant display of artistry, with top-notch writing, directing, acting, and production values. However, some episodes stood out more than others, whether because of their insightful storytelling, striking visuals, powerful performances, or a combination of all these crucial elements.

Read more
The Last of Us season 2 may fix The Last of Us Part II’s biggest flaw
Joel looks at Ellie in The Last of Us Part 2.

The general consensus surrounding season 1 of The Last of Us seems to be that it was a resounding success. The HBO series’ first 9 episodes faithfully adapt the original Last of Us video game, which was first released 10 years ago in 2013. Now, Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are set to start working in earnest on the HBO show’s second season, which Druckmann has confirmed will adapt the events of 2020's The Last of Us Part II.

Anyone who has played that divisive sequel will know it isn’t nearly as easy of a game to adapt as the original Last of Us. To their credit, Druckmann and Mazin seem to be aware of that. The pair have, in fact, already said that they believe The Last of Us Part II's story will need to be told across multiple seasons of television in order to be adapted faithfully.

Read more
The 7 most shocking moments from HBO’s The Last of Us
Joel holds a rifle in The Last of Us.

HBO's The Last of Us has concluded its first season, and audiences are reeling after everything they experienced throughout the first nine episodes. Joel and Ellie's journey throughout post-apocalyptic America was long and arduous, and the suffering they endured at the hands of humans and Infected alike was far from forgiving.

Now that the first part of their adventure is finally over, here's a look back at some of the most shocking moments in the series.
7. Outbreak Day

Read more