HBO has recently announced that there will be some changes to the way the infection can be spread in their TV adaptation of the former game of the year award winner, The Last Of Us. In a recent interview with The Last Of Us co-creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, the two spoke about pandemics and how the infection would spread in the show.
They go on to say that it was important for them to understand that people know more about pandemics now than they did in 2013. The two did not want to make the viewers feel like they didn’t know anything.
Neil Speaks On The Changes
“A lot of the reason this show begins the way it does, with that scene in the ’60s [likely the scene shown in a now-deleted behind-the-scenes video which depicted a talk show discussing infection] is to say, ‘Look, the context is, there are viral pandemics and they are quite dangerous, but there’s something out there that’s worse. And it may sound funny to you, but let me explain why.’ And then, you start to realize, ‘Oh, that’s not good.” according to Eurogammer.net.
Druckmann then goes on to talk about the changes they have made from the game to better fit the show. Neil said the team did not want the cast to be wearing gas masks, like at some points in the game. He then revealed that instead of spores in the air the show will feature Tendrils. Neil likes the idea that all of the infected are connected like a fungus in the real world. Due to the infection in The Last Of Us being based on a real-world fungus, Druckmann finds this new feature to be terrifying.
A Fresh Take On The Infection
Here via a Tweet from Naughty Dog Central. This shows an unused voice line from The Last Of Us Part 1 that sums up how dangerous these new tendrils can be. For those who are scared that the show will stray too far from the game. Neil has stated that these changes have been very carefully thought out. In a separate interview, he even states that some of these changes are from the cut parts from The Last Of Part 1.
“The big secret is, Neil Druckmann was so confident and secure in the story of the game that he was then able to be flexible with me to go wander and fill in and change and alter.” also reported by Eurogamer.net. The Last Of Us series will follow the events of the first game. It is also set to air on HBO Max on January 15th.
Image Credits: Flickr.com.