The first episode of The Last Of Us series – an adaptation of the post-apocalyptic game of the same name – was released on Sunday, January 15, and attracted 4.7 million viewers on linear and HBO Max. It was the second-biggest opening since 2010 (the time Underground Empire launched) after Dragon House.
The Game of Thrones prequel made history when it debuted last year with 9.986 million viewers, the largest audience of any new original series in pay cable history. The drama “Underground Empire” with Steve Buscemi in the main role was released in 2010, its premiere was watched by 4.81 million viewers.
The opening night viewership for The Last Of Us also nearly doubled the season two premiere of Euphoria (2.4 million), which averaged 19.5 million viewers per episode in the US. (HBO says Sunday night viewers typically account for 20%-40% of the show’s total gross audience per episode).
Based on the PlayStation game of the same name, the series is set 20 years after the near-total destruction of modern civilization due to the cordyceps mutation. Joel, a smuggler, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie, who appears to be invulnerable to the infection and could contribute to the creation of a cure, from the quarantine zone to a research facility.
The show stars Bella Ramsay (Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones) and Pedro Pascal, star of The Mandalorian.
Disney has released a full trailer for “The Mandalorian” season 3 – it will start on March 1 on Disney+
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The cast also includes Gabrielle Moon, Anna Torv, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman, as well as Melanie Lynskey, Storm Reid, Merle Dandridge, Jeffrey Pearce, Lamar Johnson, Kevon Woodard, Graham Greene, Elaine Miles, Ashley Miles, Ashley Bales.
The Last Of Us was written and produced by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Naughty Dog Studio Director Neil Druckmann.
“Our challenge was simply to make the best possible adaptation of this beloved story for the maximum possible audience. We’re thrilled to see how many fans, both old and new, have welcomed The Last of Us into their homes and hearts,” Mezin and Druckmann said.
Foreign publications have already published their first reviews, and all of them are mostly positive. Empire’s review called The Last of Us “arguably the best video game adaptation ever made”, while Variety called the series “a heartwarming zombie saga”, noting that the show could become “one of the best on television”.
The first season spans nine episodes, each lasting from 46 to 81 minutes. The series will be released every week, and the final will appear on the air on March 12.
The remake of the original The Last of Us: Part I was released last September for the PS5. Release date for PC on Steam is March 3rd.
Source: Deadline
