Troy Baker, star of the original The Last of Us games, recalls his first day on set of the upcoming live-action HBO TV adaptation. Led by Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller, The Last of Us has established itself as one of HBO's most anticipated releases, with the series set to finally hit screens in early 2023. The series will see Pascal star alongside Bella Ramsey who will play Ellie, a young girl who unknowingly holds the cure to a horrifying brain fungus that has destroyed society and turned the United States into an apocalyptic wasteland.
This much-anticipated The Last of Us series comes as a direct adaptation of the beloved video game franchise created by developer Naughty Dog. Aside from a slight change to the timeline, the series will follow much of the same story and characters as the game, with Baker having provided the voice of Joel and Ashley Johnson having voiced Ellie in both 2013's The Last of Us Part I and 2020's The Last of Us Part II. Both Baker and Johnson are confirmed to have undisclosed roles within the upcoming series, though details surrounding just where and when they will appear remain scarce. Last month, HBO offered audiences the best glimpse at The Last of Us yet, as the first official trailer was released, showing Pascal and Ramsey in their exciting new roles and showcasing some of the various game-like locations in which the show will take place.
With Baker's secret involvement with the series having excited many, the actor now opens up about his first day on set of HBO's The Last of Us in a recent interview with ComicBookMovie.com. Baker teases a "wonderful" discussion he had with his character's live-action counterpart, Pascal, before sharing that his first day on set was a real "pinch me" moment for him. The actor details how surreal it was to see the game's visuals come to life around him, stating that he would have never believed this was in his future when he first auditioned for the role of Joel ten years ago. Check out Baker's full quote below:
I had a wonderful conversation with Pedro that I will save until after the series airs so there are no spoilers about it, but I can definitely say that my first day on set, I was able to look around this beautiful location...and I had to pinch myself, I couldn't believe we were there. If you'd gone back ten years ago and said, 'This audition you're walking into for this game...you have no idea how successful and embraced it will be by people. Oh, and you're going to be in Canada shooting one of the most expensive HBO series that's ever been done before!' I'd never have believed you.
HBO’s The Last Of Us Looks To Be Very Game-Accurate
While the new trailer teased just how game-accurate The Last of Us will be, this was only a small glimpse, with more footage expected to be released as the show's debut edges closer. Despite the intense secrecy that has surrounded The Last of Us' production, during the show's filming stages, various photos and videos began to emerge from the set, showcasing just how each episode's reported $10 million budget was being put to good use. Behind-the-scenes looks have shown a whole host of game-accurate scenes being filmed, including the hospital scene, which serves as one of The Last of Us' key moments.
It's fair to say that Baker's reaction to The Last of Us set should serve as more-than-enough confirmation that the series will offer an accurate retelling of the beloved video-game, as Baker is certainly among those who would know best. As both star of the original game franchise and now star of its live-action adaptation, it's heartwarming to hear Baker's continued affection for The Last of Us' story, as many were delighted to hear that both he and Johnson would have a role to play in this live-action take on the story they originated. With The Last of Us' game-accuracy having been a considerable concern for many fans who are hoping to see the HBO series stay true to its source material, Baker's comments are now only likely to add to the already intense anticipation that surrounds this series.
Source: ComicBookMovie.com