Max Unveils ASL Version of ‘The Last of Us’ Just in Time for Season 2!

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As the eagerly anticipated second season of HBO’s popular post-apocalyptic series “The Last of Us,” starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, approaches, the show is taking significant steps in accessibility to mirror the spirit of the game it’s adapted from. The critically acclaimed video game franchise “The Last of Us” by Naughty Dog has always been pioneering in its accessibility features, particularly in the design of the infected creatures known as Clickers. Since these monsters are blind due to fungus, they rely on their heightened hearing to locate prey. In the game, players had to use their hearing to sneak past Clickers, but Naughty Dog devised a way for deaf players to avoid them using visual cues instead of sounds. Now, the show is adopting the game’s accessibility by offering American Sign Language versions of both the first season and the upcoming second season, with “CODA” star Daniel Durant taking on sign language roles.

For the first time in an original HBO series, the popular show (whose second season trailer has set records) is focusing on accessibility with the assistance of skilled ASL actor Durant. Starting March 31st on Max, the ASL version of the first season will be available separately. This comes before the second season’s premiere on April 13th. The ASL adaptation of “The Last of Us” is designed to enhance the Deaf community’s understanding and enjoyment of the series, offering them a way to engage with it in their own language beyond just subtitles.

Instead of solely relying on captions, incorporating a Deaf interpreter enhances the clarity of messages by presenting concepts in American Sign Language (ASL). This not only broadens our understanding but also allows us, as Deaf individuals, to comprehend the intended meaning more accurately using our native language. It significantly increases accessibility and adds a unique, enriching aspect to the content.

The second season of “The Last of Us” in American Sign Language (ASL) will simultaneously air when it’s released on Max, featuring Durant and director Leila Hanaumi. This move aims to make the critically acclaimed series more accessible for fans who are part of the franchise.

How Will the ASL Version of ‘The Last of Us‘ Work?

Max hasn’t created an American Sign Language (ASL) version of popular projects for the first time; he’s previously done ASL adaptations of projects like Barbie, Beetlejuice, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Therefore, the methodology for transforming these projects into ASL has already been refined. For his performances, Durant opted to wear a simple black shirt in front of a green screen, allowing his image to be seamlessly integrated into the corner of the frame, thereby reducing potential distractions during the show.

Durant’s performance has been smoothed out to create a continuous look, making his actions flow smoothly without any jarring jumps in the scene. Since Hanaumi was also part of the American Sign Language version of Barbie, she is well-versed in the role and will likely be interpreting for female characters. While The Last of Us has chosen to distinguish itself from the games, it’s comforting to see the creators prioritizing accessibility as a key aspect of the project throughout its production.

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2025-03-19 20:31