It’s only been a week since The Last of Us wrapped up, but we’re still not over HBO Max’s TV adaptation of the popular 2013 game. Creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin struck gold as they brought the emotionally chilling story of Joel and Ellie alive, sometimes sticking to the source material to a tee and sometimes diverting only to make the viewers’ experience better.
In an interview with Empire (via CBR), Mazin revealed that they took heavy inspiration from Lord of the Rings during a specific scene that shifted the story’s tone from the game.
The show creator explained how the Bloater scene in episode 5, “Endure and Survive,” was initially shot in daylight but was changed to the night to get a similar feel to The Fellowship of the Ring’s Mines of Moria scene. Read his full quote below:
It was supposed to take place in the day, but by that point in the production, we’d learned that the infected tended to look best when they were more mysterious. So I was like, ‘F–k, this is going to look so much better at night.’ And doomed myself and a thousand others to three weeks of night shoots!
As we know, The Last of Us creators didn’t rely on CGI to bring to life the menacing Bloater we all remember seeing and being in fearsome awe of in episode 5 of season 1. The change from day to night made all the difference, as the true terror of the disfigured Infected was only highlighted by how the spreading fire in the background illuminated the creature.
I can’t deny that the terror I felt after seeing the bloater for the first time would have been dulled if the scene was shot in broad daylight. Three weeks of reshooting does sound worth it!
Considering The Last of Us Part 2 revisits the monster in the game, we can expect a similar appearance in season 2 of the HBO Max show. What do you think of the changes in The Last of Us TV series? Let us know in the comments!
About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
Source: Empire (Via CBR)
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