The first episode of The Last of Us is finally here and it started out with a scene that immediately explained how nature itself was the source of the zombie apocalypse. But is it possible that fungi will be the cause of what could be the end of humanity in the real world? Showrunner Craig Mazin explains how the show's depicted future is something that could actually happen and it could be sooner than you think.
In The Last of Us Episode 1, two scientists are interviewed about the dangers of viruses and bacteria. Although one of them is adamant that these are a danger to humanity's future, the epidemiologist (played by The Mummy's John Hannah) claims that fungi are more dangerous because of their ability to infect animal hosts and control their movements. He then points out that if the global temperature rises, fungi will then evolve and infect humans.
It's a terrifying possibility and Craig Mazin tells The Hollywood Reporter that it might be closer to reality.
"It's real — it's real to the extent that everything he says that fungus do, they do," Mazin said. "And they currently do it and have been doing it forever. There are some remarkable documentaries that you can watch that are quite terrifying."
He continues, "Now his warning — what if they evolve and get into us? — from a purely scientific point of view, would they do exactly to us what they do to ants? I don't think so. I doubt it. On the other hand, he's right — LSD and psilocybin do come from fungus. What I told John was, 'What we're doing in this scene is telling people this has always been here.'"
It's certainly a horrifying warning about the dangers of global warming. For now, it's only part of a TV show based on a video game but it's should have people thinking about the environment.
The Last of Us Episode 1 is now streaming on HBO Max.
Related: The Last of Us: Bella Ramsey Hits Back at Initial Backlash to Ellie Casting
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