Has Naughty Dog’s survival horror masterpiece The Last of Us seized control of your brain like so much Cordyceps fungus? Well, you’ll be pleased to learn that Screen Gems is teaming with Naughty Dog to create a live-action feature film adaptation of our 2013 game of the year. According to Deadline, Neil Druckmann will write the screenplay and shepherd the project along with Naughty Dog co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra, game director Bruce Staley, and Sam Raimi and his Ghost House Pictures team. Coming hot on the heels of Uncharted series writer Amy Hennig leaving the studio, this is a much needed bit of good news for the company.
Since the game debuted this past June, it has been adapted to a graphic novel for Dark Horse Comics, but rumors of a film version were just that — rumors. Fortunately, it seems like that has changed. “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,†said Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper. “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.â€
Of the creative partnership Naughty Dog’s co-president Wells said, “[It’s] a perfect fit. Since our game released last June, we’ve talked with many companies about making a film, but we couldn’t have found better partners who share our creative vision and high standards.â€
This news, of course, leaves us with so many questions: Will Sam Raimi direct? Will there be a fifteen minute intermission where we pause the film and figure out how the hell to get past the next room? Will they have some freakin’ giraffes? Only time will tell.
What do you make of this news? Who would you cast as Joel and Ellie? Let us know in the comments below?
HT: Deadline
Mark walberg with a beard of course.. and the girl from kickass
I think Jeffrey Dean Morgan would be an amazing choice, and he could pull it off!
Joel should be played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan 😀
@Dan Casey, if the rumors are to be believed, it does suck that Amy was forced to leave by Druckmann and co., but my comment was meant to imply that her departure should not cast such an unbearable pall on Naughty Dog that they would be needing some sort of metaphoric ‘win’ for team morale. You know their industry is fickle… the known elite quit, resign, or get fired what feels like every other day. The Uncharted name is synonymous with Amy’s… but I’m not gonna lose sleep over the future of Uncharted 4, or Naughty Dog, without Amy, and I don’t think anyone else should, either. That studio has more talent than most triple-A game makers today combined. I think they’re gonna be just fine. And Amy will land on her feet. She’s too damn talented to not end up making a difference somewhere else.
Hey vismund… It’s “Hennig”, not “Henning”. She works in video games, not magic, you illiterate fuck.
Also, dumb-ass is a hyphenated word, like “dumb-ass vismund can’t spell for shit”. See how that works, dumb-ass?
Hugh Jackman como Joel y ellen page como elli…….
I hope they stick to the seasonal chapters. Ellie is my all time favourite video game character. You might think it’s creepy to have a 14 year old girl as my iPad background, and it is, but I love that character. And not in a weird way. I just love her spirit and determination. It’s weird isn’t it? Oh boy.
Casting? Joe Maganiello as Joel. Ellen Page is probably too old to play Ellie. She’s 27 for God’s sake. I don’t think she can pull off 14. Hailee Steinfeld would be great.
Mel Gibson as Joel, Chloe grace mortez as Ellie
I am glad Naughty Dog is making a Last Of Us Movie.
I haven’t played the game because it is on PS3, and after having so many PS2’s break, I didn’t want one and chose a 360 over it, and now a One, so I can’t wait to check it out.
As for the cast:
Joel:
Hugh Jackman, Paul Rudd
Ellie:
Ellen Page
Now that I have also read the comments, maybe Bailee Madison (Trophy Wife, Just Go With It) or Ariel Winter (Modern Family, Mr. Peabody & Sherman) should play Ellie if Page doesn’t.
@Aaron, I wasn’t trying to take anything away from Naughty Dog’s undeniable successes. Rather, the news about Amy wasn’t exactly something positive, whereas this is, so it felt like a ray of sunshine poking through the grey.
Don’t be surprised dumb ass Aaron. Read the article it clearly says the good news (debatable) is coming after Amy Henning left the studio.
Why did you write this as a “much needed bit of good news for the company”? The game had development obstacles, but what triple-A title does not? Amy leaving was a big deal, but I daresay the narrative, dialogue, and performances in The Last of Us trump any of those in the Uncharted franchise. The game was a commercial success, and the DLC has blown people’s minds, but your choice of words makes it sound as if the company is in some sort of tailspin.
At any rate, my Joel would be Josh Brolin and my Ellie would be Elle Fanning (with dyed hair, of course).
Hugh Jackman as Joel and either Bailee Madison or Ariel Winter, can’t decide!