HBO has been underway on a top-tier adaptation of the acclaimed Naughty Dog series The Last of Us for seemingly forever at this point, but it looks like the Neil Druckmann and Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin collaboration will finally hit the airwaves next year. As the franchise debuts a stunning PS5 remake and sets up development on a multiplayer spin-off, the arrival of TLOU Day has finally yielded the first trailer for the upcoming live-action The Last of Us TV show, and it already looks to be as fan-pleasing as the original release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBRRDpQ0yc0

As seen above, the first trailer for The Last of Us TV series is predictably packed with more than a few callbacks to the original Naughty Dog adventure, including its moody apocalyptic setting, the presence of the doom-bringing Clickers, as well as the starring duo of Joel and Ellie played by actors Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. The whole showcase is brought together by the tune of Hank Williams’ “Lone and Forsaken,” a reference in and of itself, as the song featured in the original game’s marketing as well as in the final game.

While we’ve seen various teases for the series over the last few months, today marks a special occasion as it marks the annual “The Last of Us Day” celebrations. As per the official Naughty Dog website, TLOU Day celebrates “the incredible The Last of Us community who bring so much positivity, kindness, and joy, not only to us at the studio but to each other.” In addition to debuting the first trailer for The Last of Us TV series, the studio also brought forth new artwork, community screenshots, and more of those spiffy animated GIFs to toss around on social media.

“We’re humbled to see this outpouring of excitement for the franchise grow and stay strong nearly a decade later. So many of you have shared how much the series has impacted you, and it’s such a privilege to know that The Last of Us continues to resonate with players worldwide.”

The Last of Us TV show is expected to unfold largely similar to the inevitably 3-part game series, but as always with adaptations, not everything is intended to make the cut. Though following the blueprint of the games and DLC, Druckmann previously suggested the plot could, at times, diverge greatly from the established narrative and would also introduce new storylines cut from the original release. It’s currently up in the air how far the story might actually bend, but the first trailer definitely suggests HBO is sticking to the general gist fans are familiar with.

The Last of Us TV series is scheduled to premiere in 2023 on HBO and HBO Max.

​What do you think? Are you clicking with this new The Last of Us TV show, or will you need to see more to know for sure? Does the adaptation seem too Walking Dead-esque for your tastes? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day!​

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