David Farnor | On 14, Jan 2024

Kaitlyn Dever is leading a trio of new casting additions for The Last of Us Season 2.

From co-creators Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us franchise), the video game adaptation takes place 20 years after modern civilisation has been destroyed. 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 and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the US and depend on each other for survival.

Season 1 stars Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, with HBO swiftly renewing it for a second season. Now, as production gears up for production this spring, the cast is being assembled. Joining Pascal and Ramsay will be Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick, Booksmart, No One Will Save You) as Abby, a soldier whose black-and-white worldview is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.

Young Mazino, fresh from Beef, has also joined the cast as Jesse, a pillar of the community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, along with Isabela Merced as Dina, a freewheeling spirit who is both Ellie’s new romantic interest and Jesse’s ex. The casting marks a reunion for Dever and Merced, who were in 2022’s Rosaline together.

Season 2 is based on the 2020 game The Last of Us Part II, which featured Dina and Jesse, as well as Abby, who was one of two playable central characters alongside Ellie. The video game synopsis reads: “In the Last of Us Part II, Ellie is now 19 and living in Jackson. With the level of peace, Jackson offers she’s had a chance to be a teenager and forge lasting relationships. When that peace is shattered, Ellie is thrust into a brutal journey fuelled by a need to bring those that have wronged her to justice.”

 

HBO renews The Last of Us for Season 2

28th January 2023

HBO has renewed The Last of Us for a second season.

From co-creators Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us franchise), the video game adaptation takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. 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 and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the US and depend on each other for survival.

Season 1 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, and Elaine Miles as Florence. Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker also star.

The series debuted this month on Sky Atlantic in the UK and has become the channel’s second-biggest US drama debut, behind only House of the Dragon. New episodes of the series launch on Sky Atlantic at 2am every Monday, at the same time as the US broadcast, and are available on-demand afterwards.

“I’m humbled, honoured, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey. The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast & crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations,” said Druckmann. “Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog & PlayStation, thank you!”

“I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey,” added Mazin. “The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in.”

The renewal comes ahead of Episode 3’s release on Monday and as Sky has also made the first episode available for free on YouTube

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