Naughty Canine’s first effort to adapt The Final of Us for the display was not as an HBO TV present, however a film, a undeniable fact that not too long ago started doing the rounds once more on social media. Like with many Hollywood productions, The Final of Us had a tumultuous, lengthy improvement interval as a film earlier than it was in the end deserted in favor of what’s now a success collection.
Whereas not everybody agrees with the creative departures from the source material for the TV collection on HBO, it is undeniably a hit and considered one of HBO’s greatest hits these days. Let’s look again at how The Final of Us originated as a film and run via the important thing developments that led to it turning into a TV present.
The unique film pitch
People across X recently discovered a post from Sony Pictures in 2014 declaring that The Final of Us was “quickly to be a serious movement image.”
This was an actual, studio-sponsored picture, not a fan mock-up. There was formally produced key artwork, exhibiting Ellie wielding a knife. There was a “secret panel” at San Diego Comedian-Con that 12 months that includes director Sam Raimi, who was initially hooked up to supply the film, having already had large success at Sony together with his Spider-Man movies.
That The Final of Us was initially going to be a film isn’t a surprise given what number of online game motion pictures got here earlier than it and what number of have been launched since (with various levels of success).
This was a 12 months after The Final of Us got here out in 2013. It was a sizzling property, as the sport was a vital and a industrial success for Naughty Canine and Sony. With Sony additionally proudly owning and working its personal movie studio, all of the synergies have been there for Sony to make a Final of Us movie.
Neil Druckmann, who directed The Final of Us recreation, confirmed in 2014 that the film would adapt the story of The Last of Us, versus branching off in another manner. On the time, Druckmann stated the film would “take into account the unique properties of film,” however he confused it was early days and the staff hadn’t but mapped out how it might condense the sport’s story right into a two-hour movie. In 2015, Druckmann confirmed he had written a second draft of the film’s script, which he stated contained “pretty big changes” from the supply materials.
It was additionally at the moment that Druckmann stated a desk learn had already taken place with “a bunch of actors,” although he didn’t title any outright. Sport of Thrones star Maisie Williams was said to be a frontrunner to play Ellie, and many individuals stated that casting was good. Williams herself confirmed she met with Druckmann and Raimi about it, however remarked on the time that there was no script or director at that time. Williams, who was 17 on the time, additionally joked on the time that she hoped Sony would make the film shortly as a result of, “In the event that they make it in 30 years, they can not have a 40-year-old Ellie.” Kaitlyn Dever was also considered for the role of Ellie in the film, and, spoiler alert: Dever would go on to play Ellie’s adversary, Abby, within the HBO TV present.
Growth Hell
Hollywood productions can take numerous time to return collectively, and when the manufacturing course of goes on for an prolonged time period, that is often known as “Growth Hell.” The Final of Us film was yet one more instance of this unlucky phenomenon.
In 2016, Druckmann stated the film hadn’t progressed for “over a year” at that point. “It form of entered improvement hell like these items are likely to do,” he stated. The film additionally by no means had a director signed on, nor was there a forged or a launch date.
This would not be the final time a Naughty Canine movie undertaking was topic to improvement hell, because the Uncharted movie is a very infamous example of this, however that did finally come collectively for launch in 2022 after a decade of improvement.
The Final of Us “would have been terrible” as a film
Druckmann stated in an interview with Sacred Symbols that film executives advised him to “make it greater, make it extra like World Battle Z,” and he pushed again in opposition to this. “Go make World Battle Z. Why make The Final of Us? The Final of Us will not be that,” he stated. Conversely, Druckmann stated HBO boss Casey Bloys advised him, “‘Do as a lot motion as you should, and no extra. Do as a lot violence as you should, and no extra. Right here, we promote drama.'”
Druckmann stated he obtained the alternative notes when The Final of Us was envisioned as a characteristic movie. It is not a stretch to think about that is a part of the explanation why Naughty Canine opted for a TV present as a substitute of a movie, along with there being a extra supportive and understanding staff at HBO to supply and again the present.
Druckmann additionally stated HBO approached the supply materials with “such reverence and artistry,” making certain Naughty Canine can be concerned within the course of too. This isn’t at all times the case, after all, because the Baldur’s Gate TV series at HBO does not involve Larian Studios. Druckmann additionally talked about that HBO was supportive of the various adjustments to the supply materials that Druckmann and author/showrunner Craig Mazin made.
Appearing on Logically Speaking in 2024, Druckmann stated the film model of The Final of Us “would have been terrible.” He stated, “It might have been a kind of unhealthy diversifications had we completed that one.”
“You have got two hours, max, and the suggestions I obtained was, ‘This can lead it down a foul path,'” he added.
In a current interview with GamesBeat, Druckmann stated he modified his thoughts about easy methods to method such initiatives. Whereas in 2014 he stated The Final of Us film can be an adaptation of the sport, in 2016, he stated Naughty Canine had “advanced our emotions” about diversifications.
“As time goes on, we aren’t excited by a direct adaptation of a narrative for a recreation right into a film,” Druckmann stated. “We’ve advised that story nicely, cinematically. The concept for The Final of Us movie was to be a direct adaptation. I don’t need that film to be made.”
Druckmann certainly obtained his want, and that film was by no means made. The TV collection with HBO, in the meantime, premiered in January 2023, and its first season–starring Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel–was an enormous success by way of vital reception and viewership numbers. A second season aired in 2025, and was equally profitable, although not fairly to the identical diploma. A 3rd–and potentially final–season is within the works now, however Druckmann dropped out to give attention to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and different initiatives at Naughty Canine (maybe The Last of Us 3?).
Hi, I’m Rishab. I’m a passionate pc gamer and an avid video game content writer. I have been involved with video games for over 2 decades now, and even today, after playing an astronomical number of games over the years, I’m still eager for more. In my free time, you will find me enjoying a hot cup of coffee and playing my favorite relaxing fishing game, Dave the Diver.
