Summary
HBO’sThe Last of Usis gearing up for its highly anticipated second season with the addition of six new cast members.The Last of Usis based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name. The show is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a fungal infection has turned much of humanity into zombie-like creatures.
The story follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a young girl who may hold the key to a cure. As they journey across a dangerous and decimated America, their bond deepens, blending intense survival with a poignant exploration of love, loss, and hope. The series has garnered praise for its storytelling, character development, and faithfulness to the source material. HBO’sThe Last of Us, which became a critical and commercial hit after its debut in January 2023, continues to expand its ensemble as it adapts theambitious storyline fromThe Last of Us Part IIvideo game.
According to Variety, joining the cast are Joe Pantoliano (Bad Boys for Life, The Matrix), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria), Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age), Hettienne Park (Hannibal), Robert John Burke (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds). Pantoliano will take on the role of Eugene, a minor character from the game whose story will be significantly expanded in the series. In the game, Eugene is only mentioned in passing when Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabel Merced) discover his cannabis-growing lab.
The Last of Us Season 2: Joe Pantoliano, Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers Among New Cast Additions
Creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann see this as an opportunity todelve deeper into Eugene’s backstory, similar to how the show previously fleshed out the characters of Bill and Frank in the acclaimed first season. “The game has so many little flourishes,” Mazin said. “You find notes that have their own little story to them.” Druckmann added, “I get excited when I see these opportunities. I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Eugene that well!’ The story we told [in the game] was somewhat superficial.”
Burke and Lamanna will also bring to life characters from the game. Burke is set to play Seth, a bar owner in Jackson, Wyoming, where Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) settle after the first season. Lamanna will portray Kat, a character who dated Ellie before the events ofThe Last of Us Part II.These new additions will join a star-studded lineup that includes Kaitlyn Dever, Young Mazino, Danny Ramirez, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright, who reprises his role fromThe Last of Us Part IIgame.
The series is a co-production between HBO and Sony Pictures Television, with contributions from PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog. Executive producers include Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Jacqueline Lesko, and Cecil O’Connor. Mazin and Druckmann are not only serving as co-showrunners but will also direct episodes of the new season, alongside Mark Mylod (Succession), Kate Herron (Loki), Stephen Williams (Watchmen), Nina Lopez-Corrado (Perry Mason), and Peter Hoar (It’s a Sin).
