The most expensive TV series in Canadian history was a video game adaptation

Entertainment · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Converting a video game into a prestige television series is notoriously difficult. For The Last of Us, the challenge was so great that a previous film deal collapsed into development hell for five years. What eventually emerged was a massive production that redefined the scale of Canadian filmmaking.

The journey to the screen began with a failed film adaptation announced in March 2014. By 2016, the project entered 'development hell,' and the partnership ended in 2019. This failure led game creator Neil Druckmann to advocate for a television format, arguing it provided the necessary length and pacing for the story. In 2019, Druckmann and writer Craig Mazin—known for Chernobyl—pitched the series to HBO. Despite HBO executives being unfamiliar with the game, they trusted Mazin's pedigree to bring the world to life. Mazin first saw in-development scenes from the sequel in July 2019. He and Druckmann collaborated on the script with assistance from the game's original writer. The project was a joint venture involving Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions.

The production was a logistical and financial behemoth. Filmed in Alberta between July 2021 and June 2022, it became the largest television production in Canadian history, generating CA$182 million for the province and creating 1,490 jobs. With a budget exceeding CA$100 million—more than $10 million per episode—it surpassed the per-episode cost of the first five seasons of Game of Thrones, making it one of the most expensive television series ever produced. Union membership for IATSE 212 grew by 30% as a result of the project. Between July 2021 and June 2022, Alberta served as the filming location for the show. It was produced under the company name Bear and Pear Productions.

Creative hurdles were constant. The original ten-episode plan was cut to nine, with the first two episodes combined to ensure viewer retention. The production also faced leadership shifts, including the departure of several directors due to creative differences or the pandemic. Despite these hurdles, the series became HBO's most-watched debut season, averaging almost 32 million viewers per episode by May 2023. The show premiered on HBO between January and March 2023. It was nominated for 24 Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. The first season covers the events of the 2013 game and its 2014 downloadable expansion.

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