The HBO TV adaptation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, is around the corner, and we have all the details you need to know before its premiere.
When it comes to an outstanding narrative in a videogame, The Last of Us is almost sure to make it to the top of the list. For this reason, it is a prime option for a small-screen adaptation.
This grueling tale of survival develops in a world infested by a parasitic fungus. Its plot follows Joel and Ellie as they travel across the USA on a mission that could change life as they know it.
The grim landscape and severity of this reality results in a multitude of emotional, tense, action-packed moments that culminate in one of the best stories in the medium.
Now, this fantastic story is almost ready for primetime! Here is everything you need to know about the HBO The Last of Us TV adaptation’s release date, cast, plot, and more.
The Last of Us HBO TV Show Release Date & Episodes Schedule
The Last of Us TV show is scheduled to release on January 15 in the USA via HBO and HBO Max. In the UK, the show debuts on January 16 via Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.
HBO Max confirmed this release date on November 2, 2022, via its official Twitter account.
- Release Time and Date in the USA – January 15, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – January 16, 2 AM BST –
All The Last of Us HBO TV Show Episodes Scheduled Release Date
The first season of The Last of Us TV show comprises nine weekly episodes, each debuting on HBO and HBO Max on the Sunday primetime 9 PM ET schedule in the USA.
Episodes in the UK will be broadcasted via Sky Atlantic and NOW TV each week at a 2 AM BST schedule, with a repetition in the evening of the same day and immediate on-demand availability.
- Episode 1
- Release Time and Date in the USA – January 15, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – January 16, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 2
- Release Time and Date in the USA – January 22, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – January 23, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 3
- Release Time and Date in the USA – January 29, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – January 30, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 4
- Release Time and Date in the USA – February 5, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – February 6, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 5
- Release Time and Date in the USA – February 12, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – February 13, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 6
- Release Time and Date in the USA – February 19, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – February 20, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 7
- Release Time and Date in the USA – February 26, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – February 27, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 8
- Release Time and Date in the USA – March 5, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – March 6, 2 AM BST –
- Episode 9
- Release Time and Date in the USA – March 12, 9 PM ET –
- Release Time and Date in the UK – March 13, 2 AM BST –
All Confirmed The Last of Us Cast
The Last of Us TV adaptation cast includes Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) as Joel and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) as Ellie in the lead roles.
Aside from the lead characters, the HBO show stars Gabriel Luna (Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD) as Joel’s younger brother Tommy, and Anna Torv (Fringe) as Tess.
- Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) – Joel Miller
- Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) – Ellie Williams
- Gabriel Luna (Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD) – Tommy
- Merle Dandridge (The Flight Attendant) – Marlene
- Jeffrey Pierce (Tommy’s Voice in The Last of Us) – Perry (Original Character)
- Anna Torv (Fringe) – Tess
- Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) – Frank (Original Character)
- Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) – Bill
- Troy Baker (Joel’s Voice in The Last of Us) – James
- Ashley Johnson (Ellie’s Voice in The Last of Us) – Anna Williams (Ellie’s mother, an original character in the TV Show)
- Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) – Kathleen (Original Character)
- Storm Reid (Euphoria) – Riley Abel
- Nico Parker (Dumbo) – Sarah Miller
- Lamar Johnson (Your Honor) – Henry
- Keivonn Woodard (Fractal) – Sam
- Brendan Fletcher (Night Hunter) – Robert
- Graham Greene (The Green Mile) – Marlon (Original Character)
- Brad Leland (Friday Night Lights) – Mr. Adler (Original Character)
- Elaine Miles (Northern Exposure) – Florence (Original Character)
The Last of Us TV Show Directors, Writers, & Producers
For the HBO The Last of Us TV adaptation, seven directors worked on the first season’s nine episodes, with Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us game writer) and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) serving as writers and executive producers.
- Directors
- Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider) – 2 Episodes
- Jeremy Webb (The Umbrella Academy) – 2 Episodes
- Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us Videogame Writer) – 1 Episode
- Peter Hoar (It’s a Sin) – 1 Episode
- Liza Johnson (Silicon Valley) – 1 Episode
- Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) – 1 Episode
- Jasmila Zbanic (For Those Who Can Tell No Tales) – 1 Episode
- Writers
- Neil Druckmann
- Craig Mazin
- Executive Producers
- Neil Druckmann
- Craig Mazin
- Carolyn Strauss (Chernobyl)
- Evan Wells (Co-President at Naughty Dog)
- Asad Qizilbash (PlayStation Productions)
- Carter Swan (PlayStation Productions)
The Last of Us HBO Trailers, Teasers, & Set Pictures
- The Last of Us TV Show Official Trailer – Release Date: December 3, 2022
- What Joel says, goes Teaser – Release on January 5, 2023
- Behind the Scenes Teaser – Released on January 5, 2023
- New Year’s Teaser – Released on January 1, 2023
- The Last of Us Clicker Teaser – Release Date: December 27, 2022
Time is Ticking Teaser – Released on December 23, 2022
- Endure and Survive Teaser – Released on December 20, 2022
- First Official The Last of Us TV Show Teaser – Release Date: August 21, 2022
The Last of Us TV Show Plot & Videogame Story Adaptation
The Last of Us HBO TV show’s plot covers events that occurred in the first game, following Joel, a smuggler, transporting Ellie as they travel across a parasitic fungus-infected USA on a mission that could change life as they know it.
However, the inclusion of original characters and changes in the original timeline will result in some shifts from the source material.
As well, there is a chance the show will cover events from The Last of Us Part II later on, according to The Holywood Reporter.
HBO’s official synopsis of the TV show adaptation of the Last of Us states:
The series takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
HBO
The Last of Us HBO Show vs. Videogame Differences
- Ellie’s mom, Anna Williams, will appear on the Last of Us TV show. In the video game, she is not present and is only mentioned on a couple of occasions.
- In the game, the Cordyceps outbreak starts in late September 2013, with the game’s main events taking place twenty years later in 2033. However, in the TV adaptation, the outbreak will occur in 2003, with the show’s main events happening in 2023.
- The TV show will add more information about how the outbreak originated, grounding its narratives much as possible in science. The game gives some insight into the origin of the mutated strain of Cordyceps but never goes into full details, leaving a lot to the imagination.
- Contagion via spores has been removed from the TV show. Instead, the Cordyceps infection will spread via tendrils.
Is Naughty Dog Involved With the Last of Us TV Show?
Yes, The Last of Us HBO TV show is a joint production by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, The Mighty Mint, and Word Games.
Additionally, Evan Wells, Co-President at Naughty Dog, serves as the show’s executive producer.
