The recent HBO showThe Last of Usis already proving to be a huge success, with the video game adaptation pulling in huge audience figures and receiving rave reviews throughout its first season. As well as its star-studded cast and commendable budget, many are lauding how faithful the show remains to its gaming source material and the impact that this has on the believability and depth of the show.
It is also worth noting thatThe Last of Usis doing well to break the perceived curse that many insist exists within video game adaptations, with the success of the show juxtaposing the many failed adaptations that have been historically produced. With this in mind,The Last of Usopens the door to a variety of other live-action adaptations that could hope to replicate the same dedication and respect to source material, and aRed Dead Redemptionadaptation could be a perfect candidate for this.
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The Success of HBO’s The Last of Us
HBO’sThe Last of Usaims to tell the full narrative of its video game source material in a ten episode series, and many speculate that a subsequent season will then tell the tale of the title’s 2020 sequel. The show painstakingly recreates the tone and overall motifs of the apocalyptic release, withthe survivors and infected in HBO’sThe Last of Usbeing extremely faithful adaptations of those present within the games.
Perhaps most impressive is the near shot-for-shot recreations of some of the title’s most famous and memorable cutscenes, with some emotionalThe Last of Usscenes taking their exact dialogue and direction from the game. This attention to detail is clearly resonating well with fans, asThe Last of Uscontinues to rise in popularity with each weekly episodic release.The Last of Uscontinues to break viewership records for HBO, putting a positive contemporary spin on the otherwise shaky reputation of video game adaptations.
Of course, the scope of video games that are suited for adaptations is massive, but none come quite as close as being comparable toThe Last of Usas theRed Dead Redemptionfranchise. While it is true thatThe Last of Usoffers a more intimate and narrative-driven experience,the story of theRDRfranchiseis still critically acclaimed, as are the characters that exist within it.
WhileThe Last of Usshines with its post-apocalyptic setting, aRed Dead Redemptionshow would prosper with its dedicated Old West theme, which is one of the most storied settings in the mediums of film and TV. It can be said that both of these franchises hold similar levels of cultural significance, with2018’sRed Dead Redemption 2breaking sales recordsin the same wayTLOU 2did.
Both franchises have two games each to adapt from, indicating a similar level of longevity that does not over extend itself, yet is still enough to leave hopeful fans satisfied that a comprehensive adaptation has been created. The show could either start with the events of eitherRed Dead Redemptiontitle, telling a revenge tale spearheaded by John Marston, or one of morality and outlaw in-fighting withArthur Morgan in a protagonist role. Crucially, both IPs have the same contrast between action-packed set-pieces and more reserved and emotional character studies, with the success ofThe Last of Usonly strengthening the chances that a live-actionRed Dead Redemptionshow could reach similar heights.
The Last of Usdebuts new episodes every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.
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