HBO's The Last of Us begins filming in Calgary

HBO’s new TV series, The Last of Us, based on the popular video game of the same name, has started shooting in Calgary, Canada.

Filming is scheduled to last a year on the series, which is being developed, written and executive produced by Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and the video game series creator Neil Druckmann, for HBO.

The show will be set 20 years after the fall of modern civilization, following a deadly viral outbreak that decimated the population, leaving behind contagious mutants and violent raiders across a barren wasteland. Joel (Pedro Pascal, Mandalorian), a hardened survivor, is tasked with smuggling 14-year-old girl Ellie (Bella Ramsey, Game of Thrones) out of an oppressive quarantine zone. 

Kantemir Balagov will direct the pilot episode, and Jasmila Žbanić and Ali Abbas are also on board as directors. PlayStation Pictures, Word Games, The Mighty Mint and Naughty Dog produce the series in co-production with Sony Pictures Television.

Also executive producing are Carolyn Strauss alongside Naughty Dog president Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan of PlayStation Productions, as well as Rose Lam. Merle Dandridge, who played Marlene in the video game, will reprise the role for the series.