Director Kantemir Balagov to Helm The Last of Us TV Series Pilot Episode

This may be the beginning of a great work opportunity for Mr. Balagov, but the fact that this production had to go for an unknown director tells me that maybe they need an executor of other people's artistic and directorial vision and not somebody who will bring their own vision into the project. My expectations are low for this one.

Also I started up TLOU Remastered (first time) on PS5 yesterday and was pleasantly surprised there was a 1800p 60FPS setting. This comes from PS4 Pro days so probably well known, but I didn't!

@TheDudeElDuderino Beanpole is utterly brilliant and was screened for Un Certain Regard at Cannes. He’s a talented director with a bright future which fills me with more hope than if they’d gone for an expensive director used to directing soulless cash cows.

@nessisonett I agree but that was not the point I was trying to make. Mine was: him (not established thus more obedient, and let's not forget: probably cheaper) vs an established director who does not direct soulless cash cows. I would have rather had the latter. But as said, this will be a great opportunity for Balagov to establish himself.

@TheDudeElDuderino Who could they really have gone for? At the end of the day, people like Aronofsky or Lynch who are established names who have their own style just wouldn’t be on board for a TV show based on a video game. For a lot of people, they can’t see the difference between something like The Last of Us and Battleship. Not everyone wants to be tied to an IP with existing fans who inevitably won’t be happy regardless of how good it is.

I'm surprised they're still making this to be honest. The last thing any of us want is a depressing end of the world, humanity is horrid and done for, show to watch.

If Naughty Dog have any sense they'll make something a little bit less grim next too.

I hope the story is good like the first game rather than the second one. I didn't have much hope for this hbo series.

@nessisonett I could see someone like Cary Joji Fukunaga. More established (with HBO at least) but not so established he's off exclusively making films. Though really, it seems like artists are just going where the good stories are these days, and that's sometimes TV.

That said, nothing wrong with this pick. But I could see where the other commenter was coming from.

@nessisonett oh, I don't know, maybe Steven S. DeKnight, Drew Goddard and, why not if they want an upstart in directorial realm, Bryce Dallas Howard, to name a few.

Wasn't he in Borat? Lol

Never heard of the director or the movies. That's no bad thing though, as often lesser-knowns with something to prove will make a better product than the well known who often rest on their laurels.

It's also not uncommon for me not to know directors and others behind the scenes when it comes to movies and TV anyway, as I never pay attention to them; I'm only interested in the subject matter, and whether the show/movie entertains me.

If this conveys any of the mood, atmosphere, and chemistry of the game, it should do just fine, regardless of who's in it or who's behind the camera.

@nessisonett Mike Hannigan the Haunting of Hillhouse man i loved that series brilliant.

John Woo was unavailable?

I can see it now, doves flying off as Joel runs n guns in slow motion.

In all seriousness though, this is a great way to expand the audience who don't play games.

I would love a new story in the LoU universe but this is more a catch up for those that don't game by the look of it.

Hopefully by season three we are getting new stories, if it makes it to that obviously.

Another game to be shredded on the big screens

With so much focus on the first game, I do hope we get to play some early days of Joel DLC. I miss the character since part 2 is mostly all Ellie.