HBO's The Last of Us television series reportedly has a massive budget in the 8-figure range per episode. Fans of Naughty Dog's hit video game series have been clamoring for a live-action adaptation for years, but aside from a movie that faltered in development, nothing has come along just yet. Luckily, HBO's Last of Us TV show is proving to be a more resilient project. The Last of Us was officially greenlit last fall, and it has since added multiple cast members and kicked off production earlier this month.
The first Last of Us game, which will form the basis of season 1, focuses on two loners living in a post-apocalyptic America after the Cordyceps virus ravaged the population. Hardened survivor Joel is tasked with bringing 14-year-old Ellie across the country, leading to a life-changing journey. Game of Thrones standouts Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey were cast as Joel and Ellie, respectively, and they'll be joined by Gabriel Luna and Last of Us game actors Merle Dandridge and Jeffrey Pierce. The series has yet to receive any kind of premiere date, but since production is still in the early stages, it likely won't arrive on HBO until next year.
Fans are eagerly awaiting new updates about The Last of Us, and now a new element to the series has been revealed: The sheer size of the production. The series is filming in Alberta, Canada, and local union president Damian Petti, head of IATSE 212, spoke about how large the HBO show will be (via ComicBook.com). His comments include what is reportedly the budget, and it's a hefty one. Petti said:
"The Last of Us, which commences photography this week, is indeed a monster. It has five art directors and employs an army of hundreds of technicians. It has had six months of prep and shoots (in Alberta) for 12 months.
"This project well exceeds the eight-figure per episode mark, so there is a multiplier effect on our economy in terms of its impact. There are hundreds of related businesses benefitting from the plethora of work."
For years, movies seemed like the most expensive productions Hollywood could put out, but now all the money is headed to TV. As well-known properties make the jump to television, networks and studios are willing to shell out large sums of money to create cinematic-level worlds. For example, Marvel Studios reportedly paid a total close to $200 million for WandaVision, and Amazon's The Lord of the Rings series is poised to be the most expensive show ever made with a reported total of $465 million. With an 8-figure total per episode and 10 episodes planned for season 1, The Last of Us seems to fall in line with those massive shows.
This certainly bodes well for the series' prospects. Shows like Netflix's Shadow & Bone have demonstrated how, if given the proper budget, a series can bring an expansive world to life with great detail and creativity. Fans of The Last of Us want HBO's show to be a deserving adaptation, and it's clear the network has high hopes for it. Hopefully, the series will prove to be worth the large price tag when it arrives in 2022.
Source: ComicBook.com