Mark your calendars: the long-awaited video game adaptation The Last of Us is coming to M-Net on 16 January 2023, Express from the US. 

The HBO series will premiere in the USA on 15 January and will be simulcast on DStv Channel 101 at 03:00 for the early birds and later broadcast at 21:00 for your viewing pleasure. 

The Last of Us story takes place 20 years after modern civilisation has been destroyed by a viral outbreak. 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 becomes a brutal, heart-breaking journey, as they both must traverse the US and depend on each other for survival.

The series stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, Elaine Miles as Florence, and Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker.

“The Last of Us is one of the most anticipated shows of 2023, and we’re pleased that our M-Net viewers will get to enjoy it first. We remain the home of the best international content, and in 2023 we will continue to ensure that our lineup remains fresh, current, and up-to-speed with not only local audience tastes, but international trends as well. This is the first big show of the year, and we have plenty more coming,” says Jan du Plessis, Channel Director: M-Net Channels. 

The upcoming HBO Original Drama series is based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name, which was developed by Naughty Dog and written by Neil Druckmann exclusively for the PlayStation® platforms. While viewers don’t need to be familiar with the games at all to enjoy the adaptation, the showrunners have promised that fans of the game will not be disappointed, either. 

Speaking at the recent Brazilian entertainment and comic convention CCXP, writer and executive producer Craig Mazin said: “It’s about the journey. I have played The Last of Us about 12 times – I know how it ends. I love the journey. And we promise, there will be surprises along the way. If you’ve played the game, there are things that you don’t know that are coming, that will blow your mind.” 

The Last of Us premieres on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) on 16 January 2023 at 03:00, Express from the US. Don’t miss the broadcast every Monday at 21:00. Episodes will also be available on Showmax a day after the M-Net broadcast.

Credits: The Last of Us is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Rose Lam. Production companies: PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.

For information on M-Net’s line-up and more, visit the M-Net Website and join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.