With HBO's The Last of Us set to premiere in January, the anticipation for its debut continues to grow. This is no surprise given the success of the original video game, and recent news about the show's first season has certainly helped build up hype. Confirmation that Season 1 will cover Part 1 of the game and be nine episodes long has left fans wondering how the showrunners will tell Joel and Ellie's story over the course of the season, particularly during its first episode, in which HBO has finally announced its runtime.Clocking in at an impressive 1 hour and 25 minutes, this action-packed opening installment is sure to captivate both old and new fans alike as they journey through the post-apocalyptic world. This is according to a new listing from HBO through gaming YouTuber @DomTheBombYT. It has a longer runtime than most currently popular HBO show premieres such as House Of The Dragon with 66 minutes, Game of Thrones with 61 minutes, and both Euphoria and The White Lotus with 53 and 51 minutes respectively.
The Last of Us Could Expand on Video Game's Heartbreaking Opening Sequence
While fans are eager to jump back into their favorite world, Episode 1 of the series could be even more gripping with its expected expansion upon the heartbreaking opening sequence from the first game. This sequence follows Sarah, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Tommy(Gabriel Luna) driving out of town in search of safety on the day of Cordyceps outbreak. They are caught in a car crash, which injures Sarah's leg and impairs her movement. As they try to escape the infected, they are saved by a soldier, but he is then ordered to eliminate them. Despite Joel's efforts to reason with the soldier, he prepares to kill Joel but is shot by Tommy before he can do so. Sarah is shot in the abdomen and dies in Joel's arms.
Fans have already been given glimpses of Joel and Sarah's pre-outbreak relationship courtesy of official photos from the HBO series. Although Sarah's ultimate fate has already been revealed, fans can now look forward to watching her history unfold and learning more about her character before her tragic end. Combining this with comments from Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, it can be assumed that Joel and Sarah's scenes will feature some truly heartwarming and heartbreaking moments. She told fans to "get ready for these two to rip your heart into a million tiny uncollectible pieces."
The origin of the terrifying Cordyceps infection could also be explored in full detail. Additionally, Ellie and the Fireflies are expected to receive an expanded introduction and fans will be excited to finally get a look at Anna Torv's Tess. The Last Of Us Episode 1 airs on HBO on Sunday, January 15th, 2023.