Maisie Williams, best known as Arya Stark on HBO's "Game of Thrones," has been informally attached to the film adaptation of THE LAST OF US since San Diego Comic-Con in July, when it was announced Sam Raimi would be producing the project. While the film still isn't officially a "go," it would appear as though Williams is most definitely on board.
Speaking with IGN, the young actress speaks about meeting with the producers, as well as turning down a chance to appear at Comic-Con with them when they made the initial announcement.
There was a whole thing that went on Twitter [of fans suggesting me for the role]… I didn’t know a lot about [the game]. I Googled it. Ashley Johnson — who did Ellie’s voice — [fans] asked her what she thought of me and she said, ‘That’s pretty much my dream.’ I don’t follow her but I was silently stalking her wondering what she thought of all this."
And when I got my American agent and he said, ‘If there’s anything you want to do, let us know’ — America’s got such that can-do attitude. That was the first time I came to him with anything. So he said he’d set us up for a meeting next time I’m in America. And they did. So I had a meeting with [producer] Sam Raimi and [game director] Neil Druckmann. And they said they’d love if you would moderate the panel at Comic-Con, but you’d need to watch the walk-through and know your s*** because there are massive fans of this and we wouldn’t want it to go wrong. I was doing so much work for Thrones that I didn’t want to half-arse do it, so I said I’m not going to [moderate]. They said fine, but they’re gonna announce they had talks. "
Lastly, Williams makes her enthusiasm for the movie known:
…So the way it was left is they want me to do it, and I want to do it. But there’s no script, no director, and no anything else. So at this moment, it’s looking like, ‘Yes,’ but it’s still such early days. If they make it in 30 years, they can’t have a 40-year-old Ellie. So at the moment, it’s looking good, and I’d love to do it. Hell yeah.”
This movie is going to get made, I'm convinced of that. Williams would more or less be perfect for the Ellie role, but as with all films, the success of the project will depend on the director.
In case you're unaware, here's the plot of the Naughty Dog-produced game:
Joel, a ruthless survivor with few moral lines left to cross, lives in one of the last remaining Quarantine Zones. These walled-off, oppressive cities are run by what’s left of the military. Despite the strict martial law, Joel operates in the black market of the city, smuggling contraband for the right price.
Joel is asked by a dying friend to look after Ellie, a fourteen-year-old girl with courage beyond her years. What starts out as a simple job to deliver Ellie to another Quarantine Zone, soon transforms into a profound journey that will forever change Joel and Ellie.
As they trek across a post-pandemic United States, Joel and Ellie will encounter different factions of survivors that have each found a unique way of dealing with the infected humans, the lack of supplies, and the threat of other survivors.