Skip to main content

The Last Of Us movie is in ‘development hell,’ says writer

Back in January, The Last Of Us game director Neil Druckmann offered an optimistic update on the status of the planned movie based on his popular, post-apocalyptic survival game when he reported that his script for the film was finished and the creative team had held table reads of the latest draft. Sadly, progress on the project seems to have taken a turn for the worse, according to Druckmann.

During a recent interview, the game director and movie screenwriter revealed that the big-screen adaptation of The Last Of Us has apparently lost momentum and entered the dreaded limbo state known as “development hell.”

Recommended Videos

“I know I said in an interview a while back we had a table read, got the script to a good place and it kind of entered development hell like these things tend to do,” Druckmann told IGN of the film’s current status. “There hasn’t been any work done on it in over a year and a half.”

The news will certainly come as a disappointment to fans who looked forward to a big-screen version of the story that made the 2013 release one of the most celebrated video games of all time.

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.

Various reports have suggested that Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams was the leading contender to play Ellie, the young girl in the game, but it’s unknown whether the project’s current, stalled state will prompt her to move on from the film.

Along with penning the script for the film, Druckmann is attached as a producer on The Last Of Us movie along with the presidents of game studio Naughty Dog and filmmaker Sam Raimi, whose production company Ghost House Pictures is attached to develop the movie.

Rick Marshall
Former Contributing Editor, Entertainment
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
The Last of Us season 2 trailer shows Joel and Ellie’s broken relationship
Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us season 2.

If you've ever played The Last of Us or watched the HBO series of the same name, then you know that Joel (Pedro Pascal) loves Ellie (Bella Ramsey) like a daughter. He'd die for her, and he's more than willing to kill for her. That's at the core of their emotional rift in The Last of Us season 2, which is based upon The Last of Us Part II. In the final moments of HBO's newly released season 2 trailer, Ellie finally learns just how far Joel went to protect her at the end of season 1. And their relationship is never going to be the same.

Even before the truth comes out, there are clearly some signs of strain between the two in the footage, even as he gifts her a guitar and admires her tattoo. Ellie's growing up in safety of Jackson, Wyoming, and she's even got a new love interest, Dina (Isabela Merced), who shares a passionate kiss with her in the trailer. However, Jackson isn't as safe as they hoped, as its walls come under attack. The people infected by the Cordyceps virus are always going to be dangerous, but the real threat to Joel and Ellie is from other people.

Read more
The Last of Us season 2 cast adds six, including Sopranos star
A man smirks while sitting at the table.

The Last of Us season 2 announced the additions of six actors to its supporting cast.

Per Variety, one of those actors is Joe Pantoliano, the Emmy Award winner best known for portraying Ralphie Cifaretto on The Sopranos. Pantoliano, aka Joey Pants, will play Eugene, a minor character from the video game. Players never meet Eugene, but they see his picture when Ellie and Dina come to his cannabis lab.

Read more
The Last of Us season 2 release date finally revealed
Two girls on horses trot in the snow.

After a two-year hiatus, one of the best video game adaptations returns this spring.

HBO announced The Last of Us season 2 premieres at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, April 13. The episode will air on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. Season 2 will consist of seven episodes.

Read more