'The Last of Us' is Coming to HBO from 'Chernobyl' Writer Craig Mazin

Breaking news hit today and it's hard not to shake with excitement while typing this. The Last of Us is headed to HBO with Craig Mazin writing and producing alongside the writer and creative director of the game, Neil Druckmann.  

This incredible pair will produce alongside Naughty Dog, the Santa Monica-based game developer, and Carolyn Strauss. 

Mazin and Druckmann traded glowing quotes about the work in The Hollywood Reporter. 

Mazin, who is an avid player of the game, stated, "Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus. Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I'm so honored to do it in partnership with Neil."

"From the first time I sat down to talk with Craig I was equally blown away by his approach to narrative and his love and deep understanding of The Last of Us," said Druckmann in a statement. "With Chernobyl, Craig and HBO created a tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece. I couldn't think of better partners to bring the story of The Last of Us to life as a television show."

HBO programming president Casey Bloys said, "This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for us to partner with Craig, Neil, Carolyn and the teams at Sony, Naughty Dog and PlayStation to bring the virtual world of this acclaimed game to life."

More to come. 

What Does the Future of Video Games and Television Look Like? 

Sony, who will function as the studio creating the show, said they're excited to partner with Playstation on lots of other shows and more content. As the line between watching and playing continues to combine, it's no surprise to see serious creators and fans trying their hand at adapting to new mediums. 

Games have been incredibly cinematic for a long time. 

Now that players are old enough to demand some clout in the industry, I think you see the first wave of these sorts of projects. 

It will be interesting to track this and the Uncharted movie. 

The bigger the hits, the more of a boom to companies optioning these kinds of projects. 

What's your dream game to adapt to the big or small screen?

What's next? Learn video game storytelling! 

The Last of Us is one of the most compelling storytelling experiences of the past decade. And it's a video game. What makes the story so powerful?