Craig Mazin: Last News

Often overlooked thanks to the ‘skip intro’ button, a great main title sequence serves as an entry point into another world. And this Emmy season has its share of series based on previous properties, which presents the main title designers with the challenge of linking existing inspirations with new stories. 

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

The Last Of Us has been revealed as the most bloodthirsty TV series.In new data provided by IMDb and Cinemorgue Wiki (via BonusFinder), the post-apocalyptic drama was named as the most fatal show in the world, with 56.5 per cent of its characters being killed.The HBO series also has the highest mortality rate, with roughly 5.78 characters dying per episode.Created by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann (co-director of The Last Of Us games), the series follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) 20 years after modern civilisation has been ravaged by a deadly infection.A synopsis reads: “The series takes place 20 years after modern civilisation has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.“What starts as a small job soon become a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the US and depend on each other for survival.”According to BonusFinder‘s data, Starz historical drama Spartacus has the second highest death rate for a TV show, with 46.7 per cent of its characters being killed.

Amon Warmann Guest Contributor Fantasy show composers Gustavo Santaolalla (“The Last of Us”), Bear McCreary (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”) and Ramin Djawadi (“House of the Dragon”) knew going in that their respective projects had built-in audiences — and that those fandoms should be kept in mind while creating their scores.  “The Last of Us” showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin told Santaolalla that music needed to be “another character” for the HBO series adapted from the video game he previously scored. Rather than create new themes, Santaolalla organically transitioned the music to TV. The South American instrument called “the ronroco,” which he used to write “The Last of Us” theme, was integral in keeping that connectivity for fans who had experienced Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie’s (Bella Ramsay) journey before. 

told the Hollywood Reporter. “[The daddy thing] seems a little role-related. There was a period where the Mandalorian is very daddy to baby Grogu, and Joel is very daddy to Ellie [in ‘The Last of Us’].”Pascal, 48, has experienced a meteoric rise recently. Although he initially rose to fame in 2014 playing the ill-fated swaggering bisexual prince Oberyn on “Game of Thrones” during the show’s fourth season, his spotlight has increased more recently.

Editors note: Deadline’s It Starts On The Page features 10 standout drama series scripts in 2023 Emmy contention. It showcases the critical role writer’s work plays in a show’s success. All materials (the script and writers intro) were submitted before the WGA strike began on May 2.

HBO‘s The Last Of Us adaptation have reportedly been put on hold due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.Per a new Variety report, sources close to the production of The Last Of Us have confirmed that the show had begun preparations for its casting process, but have been halted earlier this week.Other sources told the outlet that actors auditioning for season two were told to read lines directly from The Last Of Us Part II, the 2020 PlayStation game that season two of the HBO series will be based on. Variety also reports that though strikes are ongoing, with no end in sight at the moment, the production hopes to begin filming in Vancouver early next year.Craig Mazin – who co-wrote, co-directed and was showrunner on the HBO adaptation – has reportedly been spotted at ongoing strikes and is not currently involved in any writing, producing or casting work for season two due to the strike.Naughty Dog‘s Neil Druckmann, who created the gaming franchise and co-created, co-wrote and co-directed on the HBO show, is also reportedly not working on season two at this time.HBO’s adaptation of The Last Of Us premiered earlier this year and received rave reviews, with NME scoring it four out of five stars.

We’ve got bad news for fans who were waiting to hear more about the second season of HBO’s hit show The Last of Us: Casting has been put on hold due to the ongoing writers strike.

David A. Goodman and Michele Mulroney marched alongside approximately 200 strikers at Paramount Studios in Hollywood on Tuesday in support of the WGA which is battling the AMTPT for better wages, among other things, on the first official day of the strike.

Award-winning writer-directors Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin joined the Deadline FYC House event on Friday to discuss their HBO record-breaking drama, The Last of Us.

Craig Mazin, co-creator, executive producer, writer and director of HBO smash The Last of Us, says there remains “quite a bit of story to tell” in the video game adaptation. “Our plan is to do it not just for one more season,” he said. “We should be around for a while.”

Esquire, discussing his time working as a waiter throughout the 1990s. At the time, he auditioned for numerous TV show roles and commercials, although few materialised.“I died so many deaths,” he added.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director SPOILER ALERT: This post discusses plot developments from “The Last Of Us Part II” video game, which will presumably serve as inspiration for Season 2 of the HBO adaptation. Video game fans knew not to fall too hard for Pedro Pascal’s Joel while watching the first season of HBO’s “The Last of Us” adaptation (although that was all but impossible given Pascal’s acclaimed performance). In the video game’s sequel, “The Last of Us Part II,” Joel is shockingly murdered in the first act of the game by Abby, the daughter of the Firefly surgeon Joel killed in order to let Ellie live. Joel’s death sets Ellie up on a mission of revenge against Abby.

The Last of UsPedro Pascal is opening up about his future on HBO's . In a new cover story interview for , the actor addresses something of an open secret that surrounds the zombie apocalypse series. Based on the two-part video game of the same name, Pascal's character, Joel, could be facing a fate that leaves viewers with — according to writer Dave Holmes -- «a show with a lot less Joel in it.» Pascal has not played the game or watched the scene in question, but he is keenly aware of it.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Following a bloody and harrowing season finale in March, “The Last of Us” is getting a digital and Blu-ray release, available to pre-order on Amazon today.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Pedro Pascal has been a bonafide Hollywood star for years now, harking back to his earlier stints on shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Narcos.” But that has only been elevated this year, given his widely acclaimed turns on Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” and HBO’s “The Last of Us” — not to mention his magnificent hosting performance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” this season. With three potential categories for Pascal to shine, it would be unfathomable to imagine an Emmy acting lineup without the inclusion of the Chilean superstar. Three wildly different Pascal performances are available for the Television Academy to consider.

Canada will still be home to the zombie apocalypse.

EXCLUSIVE: The Last of Us has zeroed in on its home base for season 2.

The Last of Us has become Sky’s biggest finale audience for a U.S. debut series of all time.

Jacqueline Lesko has been promoted to President of Production at Word Games — the production company founded by multiple Emmy-winning writer, producer and director Craig Mazin, which is best known for its work on HBO’s smash hit series Chernobyl and The Last of Us.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Craig Mazin’s Word Games Entertainment has promoted Jacqueline Lesko to the role of president of production, Variety has learned. “Jacqueline has been an integral part of our company’s growth and success for a decade now, and the proof of her value is right there on the screen for everyone to see,” Mazin said in a statement. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner as we continue our journey with my own projects as well as shows we’re developing with other artists.” Lesko was a co-executive producer on the first season of Mazin’s hit HBO series “The Last of Us,” based on the video game of the same name, which recently concluded its first season. She will now be an executive producer on Season 2 of the show. “The Last of Us” has proven to be incredibly popular with viewers and critics, with the recent season finale pulling in a series high 8.2 million viewers on linear and streaming platforms the night it aired. In addition, the first season holds a 96% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.