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Naughty Dog's PlayStation 3 game The Last of Us is being adapted into a live-action movie to be distributed by Sony Pictures subsidiary Screen Gems, Deadline reports.
Neil Druckmann, the game's creative director, is attached to write the film's script. He recently won the Writers Guild of America's Outstanding Achievement in Writing for Video Games award.
The Last of Us' big screen adaptation will be produced by Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures production company.
"Screen Gems' Brian Dukes and Eric Ling brought this game to my attention insisting we go after it, and 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," Screen Gems President Clint Culpepper said in a release. "I am thrilled that SCEA's Riley Russell was able to get me in front of Neil and Evan Wells to plead my case. Sam and his team at Ghost House round out the perfect team to help realize Neil's vision."
"Our partnership with Sam Raimi, Ghost House Pictures, and Screen Gems to develop a film based on The Last of Us universe is a perfect fit," said Evan Wells, Naughty Dog co-president. "Since our game released last June, we've talked with many companies about making a film, but we couldn't have found better partners who share our creative vision and high standards. We look forward to collaborating with Sam, his team, and Screen Gems, to make a movie that will thrill fans of The Last of Us and general audiences worldwide."
Naughty Dog's other major property, the Uncharted series, has also been mined for a movie adaptation. An Uncharted movie was first announced in 2009, with Avi Arad attached to produce and David O. Russell (American Hustle, Three Kings) attached to direct. After Russell left the project, director Neil Burger (Limitless, The Illusionist) stepped in. A more recent report said Seth Gordon (Identity Thief, The King of Kong) was in negotiations to direct the cinematic adventures of Nathan Drake.
