Turning Video Games to Films with A-List Casting is Hollywood’s Newest Trend
With HBO Max’s announcement that Game of Thrones veterans Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay would be leading the upcoming adaptation of The Last of Us, it looks like Hollywood is heading towards a video game revolution.
On November 10, a writer and creative for The Last of Us, Neil Druckmann, confirmed on Twitter that Pascal would star as Joel, the upcoming series’ male lead.
This news followed the confirmation of Bella Ramsay as the series’ other lead, a 14-year old orphan named Ellie.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the Last of Us HBO series??? That’s some PERFECT casting 🔥
— Salacious B Crumb (@h0llowb0dy) February 11, 2021
The Last of Us was first announced in March 2020 and then landed a formal series order a few months later in November.
The series is based on the acclaimed video game of the same name. The game’s plotline focuses on the survival story of Joel (Pascal) as he smuggles Ellie (Ramsay) across the U.S. after modern civilization has been destroyed.
Pedro Pascal playing Joel in the upcoming Last of Us TV show is just perfect. They couldn’t have casted better. Everything about this show suggests that it’ll be fantastic, so let’s just hope it is exactly that.
— will (@wilkndy) February 11, 2021
This latest casting choice follows a series of major Hollywood actors attaching themselves to upcoming video game adaptations.
On February 11, Jack Black became the latest A-List actor to sign on to Lionsgate’s film adaptation of the 2009 video game, Borderlands. Lionsgate previously announced that Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Cate Blanchett would also star in the film.
I love @Borderlands so much and I am so excited with all this casting 🧡💙 https://t.co/RsZmfQiV8c
— 🌹Scarlett Rose @Midgar (@LadyScarlettRse) February 12, 2021
This has me ABSOLUTELY GOOPED! I love Jamie Lee Curtis immensely and I also the love Borderlands games so this is literally a dream come true. This is perfect casting thank you thank you THANK YOU😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/12UrS4d6qA
— 🌺HibisChris🌺 (@HibisChrisTea) February 8, 2021
Black will be voicing a character named Claptrap, a snarky and sarcastic robot. In addition to the all-star cast, the untitled Borderlands film will be directed by Eli Roth, whom Black previously worked alongside in The House With a Clock in Its Walls. While waiting for more news on the adaptation and its casting, other film outlets have announced game-to-film movies as well.
Back in early December 2020, another video game adaptation found its lead in major Hollywood actor. On December 4, 2020, Deadline announced that the untitled Metal Gear Solid film would star Oscar Isaacs as Solid Snake.
Oscar Issac is such a perfect choice for Solid Snake! So excited for the Metal Gear Solid movie don’t mess it up Sony! pic.twitter.com/t0DI82LyUY
— Josh ❤️ WandaVision #WandaVision #BlackLivesMatter (@supermangeek101) December 4, 2020
The film is still in-development with Jordan Vogt-Roberts as director and a script from Derek Connolly. The production date has yet to be announced.
These 2 went from being buddies and great actors to playing two massive roles in upcoming video game based movies / shows
— Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) February 11, 2021
Pedro Pascal – Joel in the The Last of Us
Oscar Isaac – Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid
Ya love to see it pic.twitter.com/JiaUKBd17e
Video game adaptations to the big screen are not new to Hollywood, with the most notable Super Mario Bros. premiering back in 1993.
However, The Last of Us, the untitled Borderlands film, and the untitled Metal Gear Solid join a rapidly growing list of films and television shows based on beloved video game franchises.
Writer | Tweet me @Emily_N_Wolfe
