“The Last Of Us” To Become A Movie Produced By Sam Raimi

It was rumored several months ago that Naughty Dog’s hit video game, “The Last of Us” was possibly in talks to be adapted into film and now that rumor is official.

The game of the year for many people and one of my personal favorite games of, well, ever, is on course become a movie with Sam Raimi set to produce via his Ghost House Pictures while Screen Gems will distribute. Naughty Dog’s Evan Wells, Christophe Balestra, Neil Druckmann, and Bruce Straley are also producing.

“The Last of Us” is primarily set 20 years after a devastating virus ended the world as we know it, turning most humans into horrifying mutated creatures and leaving the rest to do whatever it takes to survive. It follows Joel (Troy Baker), as he attempts to get a young girl named Ellie (Ashley Johnson) who might hold the key to finding a cure for the infection across the country and into the hands of a group known as the Fireflies.

Screen Gems  president Clint Culpepper said this about the recent announcement,

“Screen Gems’ Brian Dukes and Eric Ling brought this game to my attention insisting we go after it. When I saw the quality of the storytelling, I knew the audience for this project was far greater than just the gaming community and that Neil Druckmann must write the screenplay. I am thrilled that SCEA’s Riley Russell was able to get me in front of Neil and Evan Wells to plead my case. And Sam and his team at Ghost House round out the perfect team to help realize Neil’s vision.”

Currently there is no word on who the studios or producers are eyeing to star in the lead roles, but hey maybe we will get lucky and have both Johnson and  Baker as the main cast. Dare I dream?