HBO's 'The Last Of Us' Has Found A New Director

A minor yet noteworthy update on HBO's The Last Of Us TV show for you: the project will now be directed by Kantemir Balagov instead of Johan Renck, following a scheduling conflict on the latter's part.

A director, screenwriter and cinematographer, Balagov is best known for Beanpole, a film centring on the fallout of the Second World War on the ordinary people of Leningrad. Dealing with difficult subjects like mental health, abuse, euthanasia, and the roles and expectations of women in war, the film received acclaim for its "rigorous and indulgent, rewarding and aggravating" plotline and visually interesting presentation. I'm no expert, but it looks like Balagov is the right person for the job of delivering a truly representative retelling of The Last Of Us, and this opportunity could ensure he becomes a household name.

Johan Renck, who directed episodes of Chernobyl, Breaking Bad, Vikings, and The Walking Dead, had to step back from the adaptation owing to a clash in his schedule, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He will likely stay on board as one of The Last Of Us show's producers, along with Naughty Dog president Evan Wells, PlayStation Productions' Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan, and producer Carolyn Strauss (she's the one to thank for commissioning hit shows like The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and the City, and more). The show is a collaborative production between Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, and Word Games, and the composer of the game's soundtrack is also attached to produce the score.

Finally, Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and The Last Of Us director Neil Druckmann are writing the show's storyline. Clearly, the staff list is stacked with big cheeses in the entertainment industry, however, there's still no word on castings. Never fear. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... our list of A-list actors who we'd love to see in The Last of Us TV adaptation.

Troy Baker, the actor who played Joel in the series, is very keen for a role in the show, though his requirements are that he plays an anonymous enemy who meets a sticky end. Fair enough. And, for those who are and aren't familiar with the game, there's a lot to look forward to. "If you have played the game, our intention is that you will watch the show and say 'this has violated nothing of what I loved about the game, and what I witnessed in the game, but it has also brought me a whole lot more - things I did not know, really amazing things,'" said Mazin in an interview last year.

Featured Image Credit: Naughty Dog

Topics: News, The Last Of Us