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As much as a well-written and well-shot project can make a difference, if the casting choices are not up to par, it will be an uphill battle to win over the fans, which only a few video game adaptations have achieved. Still, a video game adaptation’s success depends heavily on the audience’s willingness to accept the actors portraying their favorite characters. A well-crafted adaptation with the right casting choices can make fans embrace the project, even if there are minor deviations from the source material. Pedro Pascal and Nick Offerman, both well-known actors, were cast in the show, but their performances enhanced rather than replaced the game’s characters.
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The Last of Us series is a perfect example of how it can be done right. However, getting famous actors on board isn’t always a bad idea for video game adaptations. Similarly, Jake Gyllenhaal’s casting as the Persian hero in Prince of Persia also failed to impress the fans. In the case of Uncharted, fans struggled to accept Tom Holland as Nathan Drake, while Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal of Sully received criticism. Uncharted and Prince of Persia films are prime examples of how poor casting choices can derail a project.
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For an adaptation to work, people need to be able to connect with the actors playing the characters they love. Discovering the Ideal ActorsĬasting is an essential element for any adaptation to succeed, and video game adaptations are no exception. “The Last of Us” show succeeds in this regard, delivering an exceptional adaptation that both honors the game and stands on its own as a great piece of television. While it’s essential to remain faithful to the source material, it’s also crucial to make changes that enhance the experience for viewers.
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The series proves that changes should be made to improve upon the source material, not merely to shake things up or pander to a wider audience. For example, the show’s perspective differs from the game’s first-person point of view, a stylistic change that is effective in conveying the emotional depth of the characters. The series co-creator, Neil Druckmann, has stated that the team deviates from the game’s narrative when it’s better to do so. The Last of Us: What Made The Show One of The Best Video Game Adaptations
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