PlayStation 3’s The Last of Us was released last year to critical acclaim, selling over 1.3 million units in its first week. That made the survival-horror title the second-largest video game launch of 2013.
While rumours swirled late last year that the game might be getting a film adaptation, Screen Gems has confirmed that they have signed on for the distribution rights for the big screen version.
“Screen Gems’ Brian Dukes and Eric Ling brought this game to my attention insisting we go after it, and 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,” Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper said.
Druckmann, who served as Creative Director for the game, will be responsible for writing the script, while Naughty Dog co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra signed on as Creative Architects.
Director and Producer Sam Raimi, who has been responsible for films such as The Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell and two of the Spider-Man films, will be involved in the production through his Ghost House Pictures banner.
“I am thrilled that SCEA’s Riley Russell was able to get me in front of Neil and Evan Wells to plead my case. Sam and his team at Ghost House round out the perfect team to help realize Neil’s vision,” Culpepper added.
No date has been announced as to when filming will start, or who will be cast in the main roles of Joel and Ellie.
Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor
