[Update 2] Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann has confirmed that the upcoming film based on The Last of Us will in fact tell the same story as the game.
"It’s an adaptation of the story of The Last of Us," he told IGN. "As far as where we go and how we make it fit into a film, how it takes into account the unique properties of film… We’re not sure yet. We’re only just scratching the surface."
[Update 1] Troy Baker, the voice behind Joel, has commented on whether or not he'll reprise the role in the movie. Baker said:
From experience I trust implicitly everyone at Naughty Dog. From Christophe to Evan to Bruce Straley to Neil Druckman. To everyone who liked that game, you need to trust what they're doing. I know that if it wasn't going to be something that accurately represents that story, they wouldn't do it. So I'm 100 percent behind it. If I get a chance to be a hunter or a clicker, I'd be so happy! But even if not I'll participate in watching the film with just as much enthusiasm and excitement as if I was in it.
[Original] Movie adaptations of video games, usually, are bad. Notoriously bad. The topic spawns traumatic memories of Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Alone in the Dark. But what if a team started with a game that already feels epic and cinematic in scale?
We may be one step closer to finding out, as film studio Screen Gems announced today they have signed on to bring Naughty Dog's The Last of Us to the silver screen. The game's creative director, Neil Druckmann, will adapt the multiple-award winning PlayStation 3 hit into screenplay, and Naughty Dog co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra, along with game director Bruce Straley have also been brought on board to bring the story of Joel and Ellie to life in the live-action feature film.
According Deadline, Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper said of the project that “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.”
The team will partner with famed director Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell, Spider-Man) and his banner, Ghost House Pictures. Naughty Dog's Evan Wells said of Raimi and Ghost House that “we couldn't have found better partners who share our creative vision and high standards.”
