In a fascinating conversation on Sony’s Creator to Creator series, acclaimed screenwriter Alex Garland, known for his work on Civil War and Warfare, revealed that the video game The Last of Us was a significant inspiration for his zombie movie, 28 Years Later. This disclosure was met with a pleasant surprise by Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us, who acknowledged that his game, in turn, drew inspiration from Garland’s 28 Days Later. The mutual admiration society between these two creative minds highlights the rich interplay of ideas between different forms of media.
Druckmann expressed his gratitude and humility upon learning that his work had influenced Garland, stating, “It feels like I’m receiving a compliment when you say your movie was inspired by The Last of Us, especially since my own work was influenced by your film as well.” This exchange underscores the fluid exchange of creative ideas and the deep respect that exists between artists across different mediums.
Garland went on to praise the writing in The Last of Us, suggesting that it surpasses the narrative complexity of 28 Days Later. He emphasized that while he is proud of his work on 28 Days Later, The Last of Us represents a different level of storytelling, one that has had a significant impact on him. “I think The Last of Us is better than 28 Days Later, at least in terms of writing. I’m not going to comment on the directing, as that would be unfair,” Garland noted. “I know what 28 Days Later is, and I know what we achieved with that film. But what I took away from The Last of Us is the feeling that ‘wow, this is more complex and emotionally resonant.’ I’m not disparaging 28 Days Later; it’s a film I’m proud of, but for me, The Last of Us is on another level, and it’s had a significant influence on my work.”
28 Years Later
28 Years Later, a sequel to 28 Weeks Later, is directed by Danny Boyle, known for his work on 28 Days Later, Steve Jobs, and Slumdog Millionaire, with Anthony Dod Mantle serving as the cinematographer. The film is set to release on June 20th this year.
Meanwhile, Season 2 of The Last of Us is scheduled to premiere on HBO MAX on April 13th.
Source: VGC
