Filmmaker Alex Garland, best known for his work on the acclaimed zombie thriller 28 Days Later, has praised HBO’s The Last of Us for its exceptional storytelling, acknowledging that the series is “on another level” compared to his past work. In a recent interview, Garland reflected on the evolution of the post-apocalyptic genre over the last two decades.
Written by Garland and directed by Danny Boyle, 28 Days Later introduced the concept of “rage-infected” humans, offering a fresh and intense take on the traditional zombie narrative. Despite the film’s lasting impact and success, Garland admits that The Last of Us has pushed the genre to new heights.
During PlayStation’s latest Creator to Creator podcast, in a conversation with The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann said:
Advertisement Let me say this: The Last of Us is better than 28 Days [Later]. The Last of Us is better than 28 Days, or at least the writing is. I’m not going to talk about directing, that would be a silly thing. So not that. I know what 28 Days is, I know what I did. I know what that process was. The thing about The Last of Us, I was like, Oh, this is so much more sophisticated and moving. It was moving. I’m not dissing 28 Days, I’m very proud of it. It’s a nice part of my life. But seriously, The Last of Us is on another level – so yeah, of course, I was influenced by it.
HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us, developed by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, has been praised for staying true to the original game. The series brings key figures from the game’s success into its creative process, ultimately allowing the original creator to take the lead.
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Starring Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the story takes place two decades after the collapse of modern civilization. Joel, a hardened survivor, is tasked with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie out of a strict quarantine zone, setting the stage for a gripping and emotional journey.
28 Days Later follows a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to find that society has collapsed due to the outbreak of a highly contagious virus that turns people violently aggressive. The film stars Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) in the lead role, alongside Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Megan Burns, and Brendan Gleeson.
Since its successful debut in 2002, the film was followed by 28 Weeks Later in 2007. Now, a new sequel, 28 Years Later, is set to premiere this summer.
It’s entirely possible that Garland’s admiration for The Last of Us—and his admission of being “influenced” by it—relates to the upcoming 28 Years Later and its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. It will be intriguing to see if his recognition of The Last of Us as a benchmark in the post-apocalyptic genre influences his new projects.
Meanwhile, The Last of Us season 2 is set to premiere on HBO on April 13, while 28 Years Later is scheduled to hit theaters on June 20, 2025.
Source: GamesRadar