Can climate change really create zombie fungi, like in "The Last of Us"?

With the hit HBO series "The Last of Us" returning for Season 2 on April 13, fans captivated by the terrifying concept of a fungal pandemic that turns humans into zombies once again face the question: How much of this chilling storyline is rooted in reality?

While the idea of fungi creating zombie-like humans may sound far-fetched, real scientists have studied the connection behind fungal evolution and climate change and the threats fungi can pose to different species.

Here's what we know about the science that inspired the show's premise: