Directors Neil Druckmann and Alex Garland recently sat down for a fascinating chat discussing their professional careers. Both Druckmann’s The Last of Us franchise and Garland’s 28 Days Later revolve around a virus leading to societal collapse. In their conversation, Garland expressed his belief that The Last of Us (2013) surpasses 28 Days Later (2002) in terms of writing.
Garland stated, “The Last of Us is better than 28 Days Later, especially in terms of writing. I understand the process behind 28 Days Later, but when it comes to The Last of Us, I found it more sophisticated and emotionally moving. I don’t mean to disparage 28 Days Later; it holds a special place in my life. However, The Last of Us operates on a different level.”
28 Days Later, directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle and starring Cillian Murphy, was followed by 28 Weeks Later in 2007. This June, the next installment, 28 Years Later, will be released. Boyle and Garland were less involved in the sequel but are returning to direct and write 28 Years Later, respectively, this summer.
In addition to his work on 28 Days Later, Garland is known for writing and directing films like Annihilation, Ex Machina, Civil War, and Men.
While a third installment in The Last of Us game series may not be on the horizon, the PC launch of The Last of Us 2 Remastered is set for April. The TV series, The Last of Us Season 2, is also premiering in April, with a new trailer recently showcased at SXSW.
