🍿 'The Last of Us' showrunners explain their biggest canon change

Jan. 9, 2023

The Last of Us video game was deeply steeped in 2013. That's when the apocalypse begins, before the action jumps ahead 30 years to Joel and Ellie's cross-country trek.

But in HBO's The Last of Us series adaptation, the prologue is pushed to the past — 2003 to be exact. Which places the apocalyptic action squarely in present day.

“I thought it might be interesting to just say, ‘Hey, look, in this parallel universe, this is happening right now. This is happening this year,” co-showrunner Craig Mazin tells Inverse.

Read about how The Last of Us series makes changes to its adaptation and more, in today’s Inverse Daily.

What’s New
HBO
'The Last of Us' showrunners explain their biggest canon change

The Last of Us video game is deeply steeped in the year of its release. From the moment the player hits start, they become Sarah, a young girl in 2013, as she looks for her dad Joel and uncle Tommy while the zombie apocalypse starts with a bang (quite literally) outside. After the game’s prologue comes to its heart-wrenching finale, the action jumps two decades into the future with the story of Joel and wisecracking teen Ellie’s trek across a post-apocalypse America in the 2030s.

So when HBO set out to adapt The Last of Us into a live-action series 10 years later, the studio faced a dilemma. Keep the original timeline? Or more the entire plot forward by a decade? Instead, co-creators Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann (the original game’s director) chose a third option: push that prologue into the past.

READ MORE
Inverse Interview
'The Last of Us' star Nico Parker is HBO’s hero of the hour

Anyone who’s played The Last of Us knows Sarah Miller. She is the center of the game’s prologue, which takes up a good part of the HBO adaptation’s 80-minute premiere episode, and in a way, she’s the heart of the show entirely.

Sarah’s relationship with Joel is the driving force for The Last of Us’ zombie survival story. But does Sarah only appear in the prologue, or could we see her in later scenes of the show? Even Nico Parker, who plays Sarah in the upcoming HBO series, has no idea.

READ MORE
Mind and Body
Losing weight doesn't resolve inflammation tied to weight gain, study suggests

For anyone trying to lose weight, there’s a truth we can all universally acknowledge: Numbers aren’t fun.

From the digits on a scale to the body mass index in your medical records, better health is often positioned as a numbers game. Hit the right number, and all your health problems will magically resolve, so the logic goes.

Yet increasingly, science is revealing that measures like the BMI are misleading — and that losing weight may not be a silver bullet after all. That’s the takeaway from a new paper in the journal Science that finds weight loss may come with unexpected — and not entirely desirable — health effects.

READ MORE
CES 2023
Asus sidesteps VR headsets with glasses-free 3D laptops

Forget the bulky VR headsets. With Asus’ two latest laptops, you won’t need to strap on an entire headset to get a quick glance at a 3D model you’re working on.

At CES 2023, Asus announced two laptops with its Spatial Vision technology where its OLED displays can generate a glasses-free 3D image.

Asus says it plans on releasing these 3D laptops in the second quarter of 2023. While the ProArt Studiobook’s 3D capabilities are impressive, it isn’t without some stuttering and eye-tracking lag, according to some early testers.

READ MORE
CANCEL CULTURE
The secret Netflix metric that got '1899' canceled could ruin TV forever

Understanding why Netflix cancels some shows and renews others can feel like trying to predict the weather from under your blanket.

A new show might climb the ranks of Netflix’s very public Top 10 rankings, stay there for weeks, and still wind up on the garbage heap.

However, there’s a secret metric Netflix doesn’t reveal that helps explain exactly why a show like 1899 got canceled — and it may prove that Netflix’s biggest critics are right about one particular issue.

READ MORE
Meanwhile ...

Follow us: For more stories throughout the day, follow Inverse on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About this newsletter: Do you think it can be improved? Have a story idea? Send those thoughts and more to us by emailing newsletter@inverse.com.

Share Inverse Daily

Do you know someone who would enjoy reading Inverse Daily? Take a few minutes to share it with them.

You're receiving this email because you signed up to receive communications from BDG Media. If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safelyunsubscribe. Or to manage preferences clickhere
BDG Media, Inc. · 315 Park Ave. South · New York, NY 10010 · USA
Copyright 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Key phrases

Older messages

🧠 Let’s talk about stress and the brain

Sunday, January 8, 2023

New research suggests pandemic-induced stress has fundamentally altered some people's brains. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

🧊 Glaciers are in big trouble

Friday, January 6, 2023

Plus: A huge eruption on one of Jupiter's moons has left scientists with more questions than answers. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

🐖 The 6 million dollar pig

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Plus: 'M3GAN' is a perfectly programmed campy horror hit. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

🍿 10 exciting sci-fi movies coming out in 2023

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Plus: 5 major trends to expect from CES. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

📸 9 stunning images from Mars

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Plus: 'Avengers: Kang Dynasty' could be Marvel's most unpredictable movie yet. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

You Might Also Like

City council audit trail is an audit fail after disastrous Oracle ERP rollout [Fri Apr 26 2024]

Friday, April 26, 2024

Hi The Register Subscriber | Log in The Register {* Daily Headlines *} 26 April 2024 Birmingham city hall City council audit trail is an audit fail after disastrous Oracle ERP rollout Europe's

Full-crime job

Friday, April 26, 2024

Lawyers for Trump argued before SCOTUS that the president has "total immunity" ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

All of My Friends Have These Sweatpant Jeans

Friday, April 26, 2024

Here's What You Missed on the Strategist The Strategist Every product is independently selected by editors. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. All of

🌈 Live a bold & bright life

Friday, April 26, 2024

Introducing our theme for May plus fun stuff to read, watch, and click on curated by CreativeMornings HQ. April 25, 2024 Open in new tab Did a friend forward this? Subscribe today! Speech bubble logo

🕐 Time Is Running Out: Your $99 Offer Expires In 48 Hours

Thursday, April 25, 2024

This advisory has returned a massive 838% since inception compared to the 273% return from the S&P 500 Final 48 Hours Fellow Investor, We recently sent you an exclusive offer to try our flagship

The Professor Protesting Columbia’s Own Students

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Columns and commentary on news, politics, business, and technology from the Intelligencer team. Intelligencer THURSDAY, APRIL 25 The Professor Protesting Columbia's Own Students Shai Davidai, a

Before you lose your phone ...

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Do these things now ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Friday Briefing: Supreme Court hears Trump immunity case

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Also, more bodies found in a Gazan mass grave. View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition April 26, 2024 Author Headshot By Amelia Nierenberg

Microsoft results beat quarterly expectations as profits rise 20% to nearly $22B

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Breaking News from GeekWire GeekWire.com | View in browser BREAKING NEWS Microsoft posted a 17% increase in revenue, to $61.9 billion, with $21.9 billion in profits, up 20%, and earnings of $2.94 per

The Dark Side of Immune

Thursday, April 25, 2024

SCOTUS and Why It's Good to be the King ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏