Buzz
The main character in this captivating series is Joel, a smuggler operating in the quarantine zone in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, amidst a zombie pandemic that has engulfed nearly the entire United States. In a business venture, Joel inadvertently encounters Ellie, a seemingly ordinary girl who is the key to helping humanity escape this devastating pandemic.
The trailer above also revealed one of the most crucial details of The Last Of Us: Ellie is completely immune to the infection and does not transform into a zombie like others. After facing numerous challenges, Joel reluctantly has to take Ellie to the base of the Fireflies, a rebellious organization opposing the government in quarantine zones, for research and development of a cure.
The journey of Joel and Ellie is the focal point of The Last Of Us. This journey is not just the thrilling, intense adventures they go through, but also the process of two strangers becoming attached, trusting each other unconditionally in a post-apocalyptic world full of difficulties and hardships. In the trailer, the relationship between Joel and Ellie can be seen evolving from a 'transporter-cargo' dynamic to a sacred and noble form of father-daughter bond.
The latest trailer of The Last Of Us has also unveiled some terrifying zombie species that will be featured in this series. In the original, the zombie pandemic originates from the Cordyceps fungus, with the ability to parasitize the human brain, causing them to gradually lose consciousness and become frightening walking corpses, spreading infection through bites.
However, the zombies in The Last Of Us are more complex and divided into various levels, depending on the duration of the Cordyceps fungus parasitizing humans. These include: Runner, Stalker, Clicker, Bloater, Shambler, and Rat King.
Runners are individuals in the early stages of transformation, with extraordinary running speed but somewhat slow in their attacks, often attacking victims in packs. Stalkers are those infected for 2 weeks to 1 year, frequently hiding in the darkness or clinging to walls to observe, ambushing victims, and launching surprise attacks.
Clickers are individuals who have been parasitized by the Cordyceps fungus for at least 1 year, spreading throughout their entire bodies. They possess superior strength and can easily subdue prey in close combat. Meanwhile, Bloaters are victims infected for many years, their bodies become slow and lose vision. In return, they are robust and can extract fungal spores from their bodies to create bombs and hurl them towards enemies. Both Clickers and Bloaters have appeared in The Last of Us trailer, resembling the design from the original game series.
Shamblers are also individuals infected for many years, usually living near rivers, lakes, or damp areas. They can create large clouds of fungus to attack and cause burning acid damage to prey. When defeated, Shambler will explode, releasing Cordyceps spores into the air, serving as a final deadly suicide attack.
Rat King is a special stage when victims have been infected for over 20 years, formed by the fusion of multiple zombie entities. Rat King is massive in size, accompanied by an awe-inspiring power that ordinary people almost have no chance of resisting.
In terms of the cast, the two main roles in The Last Of Us, Joel Miller and Ellie Williams, will be portrayed by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Joining them are other notable names such as Gabriel Luna (Tommy Miller, Joel's younger brother), Merle Dandridge (Marlene, leader of the Fireflies), Anna Torv (Tess, Joel's smuggling partner), Ashley Johnson (Ann Williams, Ellie's mother), and several other actors.
Craig Mazin, the brilliant writer behind HBO's Chernobyl series, is in charge of the script for The Last Of Us, with assistance from Neil Druckmann, the creative director and writer of the game version. The series will explore events from both game parts and some expansions (DLCs), including Left Behind.
The first season of The Last Of Us is set to premiere on January 15, 2023, with a total of 10 episodes.
Source: HBO, Collider
