Earlier this year, The Last of Us game director and writer of the film’s script, Neil Druckmann, revealed that the adaptation was lingering in development hell and that no further progress had been made on the project in a year and a half. Now, speaking with IGN, Sam Raimi (who is attached as a producer on the film) elaborated on what happened to get The Last of Us film into this position, saying:
“When we went to Neil with Ghost House Pictures. We were hoping to get the rights like we do any project and then we’d take it out and sell it, but we’d control the rights. With this one he went to Sony — who I have a very good relationship with — but they have their own plans for it and I think Neil’s plan for it — I’m not trying to be political — Neil’s plan for it is not the same as Sony’s. And because my company doesn’t have the rights, I actually can’t help him too much. Even though I’m one of the producers on it the way he set it up, he sold his rights to Sony, Sony hired me as a producer by chance, and I can’t get the rights free for him so I’m not in the driver’s seat and I can’t tell you what Sony and Neil together will decide on. If they do move forward, I’d love to help them again.”
It was previously revealed that Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams was being eyed for the role of Ellie in the film, though that seems like a pipe dream at this point.
The Last of Us follows hardened survivor Joel and Ellie, a young and capable girl, on their journey through a radically transformed world. Set twenty years after an infectious pandemic spread by the cordyceps virus ravaged the course of humanity, these two people, who were brought together by chance, must make life-altering decisions in order to survive. The Last of Us explores themes of survival, loyalty, love, and redemption in an emotionally charged expedition across a post-epidemic United States.
