It’s the end of the world as they know it—complete with ’80s jams. The latest trailer for HBO Max’s video game adaptation The Last of Us is an odd mix of nostalgia and post-apocalyptic horrors, and weirdly enough? It really works.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t start laughing when the epic rendition of “Take On Me” really bursts into full flower, but let’s be honest: We probably need some laughs amidst all the zombie chaos where this show is concerned. The Last of Us is set in a world where a horrible plague has turned a lot of people into fungus zombies. The summary explains:
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The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
This trailer offers a few more hints about why Ellie (Game of Thrones‘ Bella Ramsey) is so special, and about what matters most to Joel (Pedro Pascal). Pascal is in his perfected gruff protect-the-child mode here—a mode we know and love from his role on The Mandalorian—and Ramsey is delightfully irreverent.
HBO recently released moody character posters for the cast, which includes everyone from Nick Offerman (Devs) to Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) to Anna Torv (Fringe) to Storm Reid (A Wrinkle in Time).
The protector and the last hope. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are Joel and Ellie. #TLOUnaCCXP pic.twitter.com/2gLTKolQHJ
— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 30, 2022
The leader, the soldier, and the smuggler. Merle Dandridge is Marlene, Gabriel Luna is Tommy, and Anna Torv is Tess. #TLOUnaCCXP pic.twitter.com/TaqgSyiWre
— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 30, 2022
The optimist and the survivalist. Murray Bartlett is Frank and Nick Offerman is Bill. #TLOUnaCCXP pic.twitter.com/TJB1u0LoYq
— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 30, 2022
The big brother and the little brother. Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard are Henry and Sam. #TLOUnaCCXP pic.twitter.com/KqJZAKK4bs
— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 30, 2022
The only friend and the daughter. Storm Reid is Riley and Nico Parker is Sarah. #TLOUnaCCXP pic.twitter.com/foJq7iRs88
— HBO Max (@hbomax) November 30, 2022
The Last of Us comes from Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the original game. The series begins its journey on HBO Max on January 15th, 2023.
