Neil Druckmann: The Visionary Behind HBO’s The Last Of Us

Defying the conventional wisdom that video games make poor screen adaptations, HBO’s The Last of Us has become a pop culture phenomenon. Starring Pedro Pascal as a smuggler leading a 14-year-old orphan (played by Bella Ramsey) through a zombie-infected wasteland, the critically-acclaimed series was renewed for a second season after only two episodes.

But who is the creative genius behind The Last of Us? His name is Neil Druckmann, a designer and co-writer on the original video game franchise, who subsequently became co-creator, co-writer, an executive producer, and one of the directors on the television show.

Despite becoming a breakout hit, creating The Last of Us was anything but an overnight success story. The 44-year-old drew on his upbringing in the West Bank as well as his early criminology studies in creating the original game. He also had to face down rejection from the granddaddy of all things zombies: Night of the Living Dead director George Romero.

Table of Contents

• Biography
• Early Influences
• George Romero’s Rejection
• Pestering His Way to a Naughty Dog Job
• Success with The Last of Us

Biography

Neil Druckmann was born on May 5, 1978, in Tel Aviv, Israel. He spent his early years in a settlement in the West Bank. His family immigrated to Miami when he was 10 years old. Here’s a quick look at his personal details:

Early Influences

Druckmann was raised amidst violence in the West Bank, which deeply influenced his creative outlook. He found solace in comic books, movies, and especially video games, particularly titles like The Secret of Monkey Island and Metal Gear Solid.

His family’s move to Miami allowed him to retain his passion for gaming. As a teenager, his brother sneaked him into E3, a major video game expo, which further fueled his ambitions. Although he initially pursued criminology at Florida State University, a programming class changed his trajectory towards becoming a game developer.

“At some point, I took a programming class, and it came easy to me, and then it just clicked, ‘Wait, this is what people do to make video games!’” he shared in an interview. This revelation marked the beginning of his journey into game design.

George Romero’s Rejection

Druckmann first conceived The Last of Us during his master’s program at Carnegie Mellon University. His family experiences and the immigrant narrative significantly shaped the story he wanted to tell.

However, he faced early disapproval from a significant figure in the zombie genre: George Romero. During a class where student pitches were presented, Druckmann shared his idea for the game. “He didn’t like it,” Druckmann recalled. “He picked something else.” This rejection led Druckmann to shelve his idea, but it would later evolve into a story focusing on character relationships instead of just zombies.

Pestering His Way to a Naughty Dog Job

After completing his education, Druckmann sought a role at Naughty Dog, the studio behind popular franchises like Crash Bandicoot. His persistence paid off as he continually contacted company president Jason Reuben until he secured an internship.

“I approached him, and I bugged him, and I told him that I wanted to break into games,” he admitted. This determination opened the door for him, leading to significant contributions to various projects.

His first major achievement came with the success of Uncharted, an action-adventure game that garnered critical acclaim and set the stage for Druckmann's later endeavors.

Success with The Last of Us

Returning to his earlier concept, Druckmann produced The Last of Us, released for PlayStation in 2013. The game was met with widespread acclaim and became a commercial success, often cited as one of the greatest video games of all time.

Following the success of its sequel, The Last of Us, Part II, HBO adapted the game into a television series. The show has been praised for its storytelling and performances, showcasing Druckmann’s ability to adapt his work across mediums.

Involved as a co-creator and co-writer, Druckmann also directed an episode of the series, earning accolades from the cast for his directorial debut. His journey reflects the power of perseverance and creativity in the face of adversity.