The global sensation of The Last of Us video game is finally making its way to our screens with a new TV adaptation starring former Game of Thrones stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
The TV show’s release date of 2023 has finally arrived on HBO in the United States and Sky and NOW in the United Kingdom, so keep reading to find out how you can watch the post-apocalyptic drama unfold.
The Last of Us follows Joel (Pedro) and Ellie (Bella) in a world where the Cordyceps illness – which can be harmful to insects in real life – has infiltrated the human population, causing widespread devastation and ruin.
Ellie, on the other hand, appears to be immune to the parasitic fungus infection, and Joel is entrusted with sneaking her across the US in the hope that she would be the key to developing a cure.
So, how can you watch The Last of Us in the United Kingdom? Here’s what you should know.
How to watch The Last of Us in the UK
The release of The Last of Us has been eagerly anticipated by fans of the video game franchise worldwide, as well as those unfamiliar with the story who have been captivated by the terrifying premise.
Episodes will air on HBO on Sunday evenings in the United States, with the premiere date set for January 15th.
Episodes of The Last of Us, like other HBO projects such as House of the Dragon, will be presented on Sky Atlantic and streaming platform NOW the next day, with instalments first being available at 2am GMT.
To view, you must have either a Sky subscription or a NOW subscription.
NOW membership costs £9.99 a month and includes access to a choice of TV series as well as the opportunity to cancel at any moment.
It also comes with a seven-day free trial of Boost, which gives you more streaming allowance on other devices and access to superior picture and sound quality.
Those interested in subscribing to NOW can also purchase a package subscription to NOW Entertainment and NOW Cinema for £12 per month for the first six months, after which it will cost £19.98 per month.
How many episodes will there be?
The first season of The Last of Us has nine episodes in total.
With the first season premiering on Monday January 16, the season finale will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday March 13, while it will air on HBO in the United States on the evening of Sunday March 12.
Neil, co-showrunner, addressed why the TV series would be less violent than the computer games in an interview with SFX magazine… Despite this, the show is nevertheless brutal and often terrifying to watch.
‘We need a certain amount of action, or violence, that we could use for mechanics so you could connect with Joel and get into a flow state,’ he said.
‘Then you would really feel like you’re connected with this on-screen avatar and you’re seeing the world through his eyes.’
He added via Collider: ‘But that doesn’t exist in a passive medium. One of the things that I loved hearing from [co-creator Craig] and HBO very early on was, “Let’s take out all the violence except for the very essential.”
‘That allowed the violence to have even more impact than in the game, because when you hold on showing the threat and you’re seeing people’s reaction to a threat, that makes it scarier. And when we do reveal the infected and the Clickers, you get to see what brought down humanity and why everyone is so scared.’
The Last of Us premieres on Monday January 16 on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV