Will HBO Max's The Last of Us be a success? The early hype is in

The highly anticipated adaption of the video game The Last of Us will hit HBO Max this weekend. Will the upcoming TV show be a success or a flop?

Pedro Pascal plays Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie across a post-apocalyptic US in HBO Max's The Last of Us.
Pedro Pascal plays Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie across a post-apocalyptic US in HBO Max's The Last of Us.  © IMAGO/Picturelux

One of the year's biggest TV releases is upon us, and it has a lot of weight on its shoulders.

Action lovers and die-hard gamers worldwide have been patiently waiting for Pedro Pascal to grace the screen as Joel, along with Bella Ramey's Ellie.

First looks have teased that the dark drama will be similar to the 2013 Naughty Dog video game. But as many have seen time and time again, some adaptions fail at leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

Jason Kelce smashes fan's phone after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce get called homophobic slur
Taylor Swift Jason Kelce smashes fan's phone after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce get called homophobic slur

Will The Last of Us soar? Early reviews have a lot to say.

The Last of Us is called a "finer" version of The Walking Dead

Bella Ramsey (l.) plays Ellie, a unique teenager who may the key to save humanity.
Bella Ramsey (l.) plays Ellie, a unique teenager who may the key to save humanity.  © IMAGO/Picturelux

It's tricky to properly adapt a video game into a series or movie, and even trickier to get die-hard fans on board.

Resident Evil is case in point - as many can recall how the film franchise's appeal initially soared, but eventually declined after the third movie was made.

But it seems that fans of The Last of Us will be in for a treat, and those who have never played the game will also be pleasantly surprised.

Ben Affleck makes rare comment about Jennifer Lopez amid their divorce
Jennifer Lopez Ben Affleck makes rare comment about Jennifer Lopez amid their divorce

Early reviews for the HBO Max post-apocalyptic drama have been overwhelmingly positive, with Rotten Tomatoes giving the show a certified fresh score of 96%.

A few critics have also sounded off on the series, and are overwhelming in favor.

Rolling Stone dubbed the show as a finer version of The Walking Dead and declared it to be HBO Max's next biggest hit.

The Verge's Charles Pulliam stated in his review that longtime fans of the games will "love" the new show.

Screen Rant had similar sentiments, writing that the upcoming drama is a video game adaption "done right."

The time has come. Don't miss The Last of Us, debuting Sunday at 9 PM EST on HBO Max!

Cover photo: IMAGO/Picturelux

More on TV & Shows: