Series creators and writers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann felt the television medium allowed an opportunity to explore characters' backstories further than the games, which Druckmann wrote and co-directed. Casting took place virtually through Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with several high-profile guest stars cast for singular or few episodes. Pascal and Ramsey were cast for their abilities to embody the characters and imitate their relationship. The performances of the main and guest cast throughout the series received critical acclaim and awards.
The Last of Us is written by series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann; the latter wrote and co-directed the video games on which the series is based.[1] Unlike creating the games, Druckmann felt he was able to "unplug" from the characters when writing the show due to the immersive nature of video games.[2] The writers found the series an opportunity to delve into backstories of characters who the game otherwise ignored, wanting to better understand their motivations.[3]
Druckmann was open to changing any aspects of the games but always wanted a strong reason,[4] ensuring he and Mazin considered the impacts on events later in the narrative.[5] They avoided making "a zombie show",[6] acknowledging the infected creatures were ultimately a vessel through which the characters are pressured to make interesting decisions and reveal their true selves.[7]
Casting for the first season took place virtually through Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Casting director Victoria Thomas wanted to honor the game without being limited by it.[8] Mazin and Thomas sought high-profile guest stars; Thomas said many of the actors "don't usually do one-episode guest spots".[9] The producers primarily sought actors who could embody Joel and Ellie individually as well as imitate their relationship.[10]:14:42
Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) is a hardened middle-aged survivor who is tormented by the trauma of his past.[13][14] He is tasked with smuggling a young girl, Ellie, out of a quarantine zone and across the United States.[13] Unlike in the games, which required Joel (as the player character) to perform near-superhuman actions for the player to progress, he is more vulnerable in the series—he is hard of hearing in one ear due to a gunshot and his knees ache when he stands.[2]
Pascal's casting was announced on February 10, 2021.[13] Earlier that day, it was reported Mahershala Ali was offered the role of Joel after Matthew McConaughey turned it down;[15]The Hollywood Reporter noted Ali "did circle a role" in the show, but a deal was never formed.[16] Pascal became available for a new series after the release of the second season of The Mandalorian, attracting several offers for projects from large networks, of which he chose The Last of Us,[13] partly to work with Mazin.[14] Mazin and Druckmann had been considering Pascal for some time. He accepted the role within 24 hours;[17]The Mandalorian producers gave Pascal permission to work on the series.[18] He is reportedly earning US$600,000 per episode, making him one of the highest-paid American television stars.[19]
Pascal was chosen for his ability to portray a tough, tortured, and vulnerable character who suppresses his emotions until necessary.[7] A non-gamer, Pascal watched his nephew play the beginning of the first game because he lacked the skill to play it himself; he found Joel to be "so impressive" but was concerned about imitating the games too closely, instead choosing to "create a healthy distance" and allow the showrunners to decide the characterization.[20] Pascal based Joel's voice on his own experiences growing up in San Antonio, Texas, paring it back from the Southern accent used in the game.[21]
Empire's John Nugent and /Film's Valerie Ettenhofer referred to Pascal's performance as the best of his career, citing his ability to portray nuance and rare vulnerability.[22][23]TechRadar's Axel Metz described him as the "perfect real-world manifestation" of Joel.[24]GameSpot's Mark Delaney said Pascal's performance in the first episode made him cry twice and lauded his ability to portray different sides of Joel;[25]Push Square's Aaron Bayne found Pascal's performance reflected Joel's torment without speaking,[26] In the fourth episode, The A.V. Club's David Cote enjoyed Pascal's warmth and humor, particularly in scenes in which he teaches Ellie;[27]Den of Geek's Bernard Boo considered the sixth episode among the best performances of Pascal's career;[28]TVLine named Pascal the Performer of the Week, citing his emotions and physicality,[29] and Push Square's Bayne opined he balanced "the stoic masculinity with tender vulnerability".[30] Several reviewers lauded Pascal's range of demonstrating terror, fragility, and rage in the ninth episode.[31][32][33] For his role, Pascal won Best Hero at the MTV Movie & TV Awards,[34] and was nominated at several ceremonies,[35][36][37] including the Primetime Emmy Awards[38] and Golden Globe Awards.[39]
Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is a 14-year-old girl who displays much defiance and anger but has a private need for kinship and belonging.[16] She has not lost her playfulness, bonding easily with children, and has a fondness for puns.[40][41] She is immune to the Cordyceps infection and may be the key to creating a vaccine.[16] In keeping with the games, she is a lesbian.[42]
Ramsey's casting was announced on February 10, 2021.[16] Any actors considered for Ellie for the canceled film adaptation—such as Maisie Williams and Kaitlyn Dever—had aged out of consideration by the time the series was in production, resulting in a reset of candidates.[18] Around 105 actors had been considered;[17] the producers sought a performer who could portray a resourceful, quirky, and potentially violent character.[7] After watching Ramsey's audition tape, they spoke to David Benioff and D. B. Weiss—showrunners of Game of Thrones, in which Ramsey had a recurring role—who assured them of their talent. Ramsey secured the role less than a month after their audition.[18]
Ramsey received news of their casting during production on a different project. They said the show feels "like the biggest thing [they have] ever done"[43] and was immediately comforted Pascal would perform alongside them for the entire experience.[44] Ramsey was aware of the game before their audition,[45] but was encouraged not to play it to avoid replicating the original performance, instead watching some gameplay on YouTube to "get a sense of it";[46] they still had not played it after filming the series.[47] Ramsey wanted their performance to be reminiscent of the games without copying them.[48] Ramsey, who is English, learned an American accent for the role,[49] and had to cut off over 15 inches of hair.[45] They wore a chest binder for 90 percent of production for better focus on set.[50]
Kotaku Australia's David Smith called Ramsey "perhaps the pilot's greatest triumph", especially in their scenes with Pascal.[51] By the fourth episode, Push Square's Bayne felt Ramsey's performance would win over viewers who doubted their casting, lauding their portrayal of both trauma and humor.[52]The Washington Post's Gene Park similarly wrote the episode was "Ramsey's time to flex those muscles" of humor.[53] In the fifth episode, Den of Geek's Bernard Boo called Ramsey's reaction to Henry's death "utterly heartbreaking",[54] and Total Film's Bradley Russell found their performance worthy of awards consideration.[55] Boo thought the sixth episode featured "possibly the best performances of [Ramsey's] career".[28]io9's Germain Lussier felt Ramsey's performance shone in Ellie and Joel's confrontation,[56] and IGN's Simon Cardy praised their continued ability to switch between emotion and comedy.[57]
Bleeding Cool's Tom Chang called Ramsey's performance in the seventh episode "award-worthy" and their strongest to date.[58] In the eighth episode, Den of Geek's Boo lauded Ramsey's ability to portray toughness while maintaining vulnerability,[59] and The Washington Post's Park wrote their performance "should finally erase" any remaining doubts of their ability.[60]The New York Times's Noel Murray commended Ramsey's unique portrayal of Ellie's emotional shutdown in the ninth episode, noting she "is clearly lost in her own thoughts, but she is never entirely unresponsive".[61]The A.V. Club's David Cote enjoyed Ramsey's touching final speech,[62] and The Atlantic's David Sims called them "dead on in conveying Ellie's suspicion" in the final scenes.[33] For their role, Ramsey received several nominations,[35][63][64] including at the Primetime Emmy Awards[65] and Golden Globes.[39]
Tommy (Gabriel Luna) is Joel's younger brother who maintains idealism in his hope for a better world.[66] He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm.[67] Before the outbreak, Tommy was a contractor who worked with Joel. After a soldier shoots at Joel and Sarah, Tommy kills the soldier but watches Sarah die in Joel's arms. In 2023, Tommy and Joel reunite in Jackson, Wyoming. Joel tries to convince Tommy to join him and Ellie to Colorado; Tommy declines as Maria is pregnant. Later on, Joel confides in Tommy about Ellie's immunity and his declining mental state, and asks Tommy to take Ellie to the Fireflies as he fears he cannot keep her safe; he agrees to take her the following morning. In the morning, Joel changes his mind, and he and Ellie leave Jackson on horseback while Tommy remains. Tommy is set to return in the second season.[68]
Luna's casting as Tommy was announced on April 15, 2021.[69] About a month after the casting of Pascal and Ramsey, Luna was asked to submit an audition tape; he performed one scene from the game and one from the first episode.[70] He was familiar with the work of Mazin and executive producer Carolyn Strauss, and had previously worked with HBO on True Detective.[71]:1:02 Six days after submitting his tape, he was offered the role by Mazin, Strauss, and Druckmann;[70] according to Luna, they instantly knew he was "the one".[71]:1:53 He was enthusiastic for the role, having lived in Austin around the same time as the show's setting,[71]:2:20 and was given a PlayStation 5 during production to play the games as research.[72]
Luna provided input for Tommy's costume, such as the Texan plant Indian paintbrush on his boots and his First Nations-crafted belt buckle, which he felt Tommy "found and treasured because it was just so well-made".[73] Luna believed Tommy desires a family like his brother's and a world in which people can return to peaceful living.[74] He could relate to Joel's actions as an older brother, particularly as he had been the patriarch of his own family alongside his single mother.[75] Luna partly took inspiration from Texans such as Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, particularly Kristofferson for his relaxed attitude.[76]
Push Square's Bayne wrote Luna flawlessly "slips into the role" with little screen time.[26] Critics enjoyed the chemistry between Pascal and Luna in the sixth episode,[57][77] and Bayne considered Luna's performance "a wonderful counter to Joel", citing the familial bond and underlying tension.[30]
Maria (Rutina Wesley) is a leading member of a collectivist settlement in Jackson, Wyoming and Tommy's pregnant wife.[78][79] A group led by Maria surround Joel and Ellie and take them to Jackson. Maria cuts Ellie's hair and warns her to be cautious of trusting others, citing Joel's dangerous past; Ellie rebuts, citing Tommy's. Tommy initially declines Joel's request to join him and Ellie to Colorado as Maria is pregnant. Maria is set to return in the second season.[80]
Director Jasmila Žbanić revealed Wesley's casting on December 9, 2021;[81] her role as Maria was announced on January9, 2023.[79] Wesley researched the game to "capture the essence" of Maria but wanted to avoid replicating it;[82] she found it "terrifying" to play a pre-established character but wanted to add her "energy on it".[78] She appreciated Maria's calmness as a leader and observed she was a person who only smiles with her eyes;[78] she thought Maria naturally entered a leadership role due to her history as an assistant district attorney.[82] Wesley felt Maria gravitated towards Ellie in a motherly manner without realizing, due in part to her pregnancy.[78]
Sarah (Nico Parker) is Joel's 14-year-old daughter.[83][84] In 2003, in Sarah is awoken in the middle of the night and discovers her neighbors attacked by a creature, a once-senile elderly woman; Joel kills the creature. As Joel, Tommy, and Sarah flee through crowds, debris from a crashed airplane overturns Tommy's truck. Joel runs while carrying an injured Sarah but gets cornered by a soldier, who shoots at them. Tommy kills the soldier, but Sarah is fatally wounded and dies in Joel's arms.
Parker's casting was announced on June 30, 2021.[83] Parker watched videos of the game years before getting the role.[85] She wanted to "stay away from the game version" and provide her own interpretation of the character;[76] she felt intimidated at the prospect of portraying Sarah's death due to its impact in the game.[86] Pascal felt an instant bond with Parker, with whom he filmed scenes first.[87]
Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall lauded Parker's performance for "holding the screen" and establishing Sarah as likable,[88] and Den of Geek's Boo wrote her "performance is warm and compassionate", making her death more impactful.[89]The Guardian's Andy Welch felt Parker "has a promising career ahead of her".[90] Parker was nominated for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series at the 7th Annual Black Reel Awards for Television.[91]
Marlene
Merle Dandridge reprises her role of Marlene from the video games.
Marlene (Merle Dandridge) is the head of the Fireflies, a resistance movement hoping to gain freedom from the military.[92] Marlene knew Ellie's mother, Anna, her whole life. After Anna gave birth to Ellie, she asked Marlene to kill her to prevent infection and take Ellie back to Boston; she hesitantly does so. Fourteen years later, after Ellie is bitten, Marlene orders the Fireflies to keep her caged. She reveals she placed Ellie into FEDRA military school as a child for her protection but now plans to transport her west. After a botched deal leaves most Fireflies dead, Marlene begs Joel and Tess to take Ellie to the Massachusetts State House in exchange for supplies; they accept. After Joel and Ellie arrive in Salt Lake City, Marlene explains to Joel doctors are preparing surgery on Ellie that will kill her. She orders two soldiers to escort Joel out of the hospital; Joel escapes and kills most of the Firefly soldiers to take Ellie. Marlene intercepts them in the parking garage, stating there is still time for Joel to do the right thing, but he shoots and kills her.
Dandridge's casting was announced on May 27, 2021. Dandridge reprises her role from the video games,[92] the first actor to do so; Mazin and Druckmann felt, unlike most other actors from the game, she physically resembled her character, only requiring a wig.[93] Dandridge revisited the game in preparation.[74] She was consistently surprised by the physical elements on set, having only portrayed Marlene within a motion capture stage and suit during the games.[94] She found the character had "a heavier stillness" in the show, which she attributed to the weight of living in the post-apocalyptic world.[95] Dandridge found the ninth episode's cold open provided important context for the relationship between Marlene and Anna, and was happy to work alongside Johnson again.[96] She tried to forget her performance in the game and focus on the contextual differences in Marlene's scenes with Joel, particularly noting the differences in the script and location.[97] Dandridge cried while recording automated dialogue replacement for the episode—a first for her—as she found Anna's death so emotional.[98] She "had a really hard time" while filming Marlene's final scenes, partly due to the overwhelming emotions of the character's decision and consequences.[99]
Tess (Anna Torv) is a hardened survivor and Joel's smuggler partner.[100] In 2023, Tess lives in Boston with her partner Joel, with whom she smuggles and sells contraband. Marlene begs Joel and Tess to take Ellie to the Massachusetts State House in exchange for supplies; they accept. After discovering Ellie's potential immunity, a skeptical Tess convinces Joel to follow through as the Fireflies will still give them supplies. Arriving at the State House, they find the Fireflies dead. Tess tries to find clues on where to go next, but Joel tells her the job is finished and they will return home. Tess tells him that she cannot go back, revealing a bite mark on her neck. She covers the room with gasoline and grenades as Joel and Ellie leave. An infected man begins the process of converting Tess when she ignites the building, killing the creatures.
Torv's casting was announced on July 22, 2021.[100] Torv and Pascal decided Tess and Joel had been lovers for some time but, like in the game, were subtle about their relationship.[101] She felt her performance required consistent truthfulness due to its subtlety.[102] Torv was aware of the games but had not played them; she watched the cutscenes after her casting.[76] Casting director Victoria Thomas noted several actors were discussed for the role but "no one quite fit"; she felt Torv was able to portray the necessary toughness and heart.[8]
Den of Geek's Boo felt Torv matched the nuance of Pascal's performance in the first episode.[89] For the second, TVLine named Torv the Performer of the Week, citing her complexity and subtlety.[103]Total Film's Russell felt Torv demonstrated the character's emotional depth,[104] and Den of Geek's Boo found it sophisticated and heartbreaking.[105]IGN's Cardy wrote she displayed "warmth beneath a scarred, steely surface", lauding her relationship with Pascal's Joel.[106]IndieWire's Steve Greene applauded Torv's capability to demonstrate Tess's sadness and pain through facial expressions alone.[107] Torv was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series at the 75th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.[65]
Ratna Pertiwi (Christine Hakim) is a mycology professor at the University of Indonesia. In 2003, authorities in Jakarta show Ratna a sample from a human, which she identifies as Ophiocordyceps. She is shown a corpse of a woman with a human bite mark on its leg and fungal growths in its mouth, and informed the woman was killed after biting her co-workers at a flour factory, while other co-workers are missing. Ratna remarks the location provides an excellent substrate for the fungus, adds there is no cure or vaccine for the infection, and recommends bombing Jakarta to contain the outbreak.[108] Hakim was contacted for the series via Instagram. She was initially hesitant to accept the role as she was caring for her mother and husband amid the COVID-19 pandemic but was convinced by her grandniece, a fan of the game.[109] Her husband reassured her and told her the role "is not only for you, this is for Asia".[110] Hakim recorded her role in Calgary in late October 2021. She brought her traditional batik scarves and Indonesian jewelry, which the costume department accepted for use in the series.[109]IndieWire's Greene called Hakim "magnificent".[107]
Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) are survivalists living in Lincoln, Massachusetts.[111][112] After the evacuations, Bill ransacks abandoned businesses for supplies and materials to build a generator, electric fence, and traps. Four years later, he encounters Frank, who bargains for a hot meal, shower, and fresh clothes. He and Bill play "Long, Long Time" on the piano. He deduces Bill has never had a romantic partner. Frank kisses him, and they sleep together. Three years later, Frank invites Tess and Joel to establish a smuggling operation. Joel convinces the misanthropic Bill to accept Frank's plan by pointing out deficiencies in the town's defenses they can help fix. Later, raiders attempt to infiltrate the town, injuring Bill before being repelled by his defenses. Ten years later, Bill and Frank are elderly, with a degenerative disease leaving Frank with limited mobility; he asks Bill to help him die. Bill takes Frank to dress in new suits and they marry in their living room. After dinner, Bill places a lethal dose of sleeping tablets in Frank's wine and reveals he spiked his own drink as well, admitting he has no desire to live without Frank. They retire to their room. Bill leaves Joel his truck, weapons, and supplies.
Murray Bartlett and Con O'Neill's casting as Frank and Bill was announced on July 15, 2021.[112] Bartlett was unfamiliar with the source material but was drawn to the show after he read the script.[113] He researched the game after receiving the role and found it cinematic, citing the characters, narrative, and themes.[114] According to Mazin, the producers cried during Bartlett's audition.[115] Druckmann expected some fans to be upset by Frank's inclusion in the show due to the divergence from the game's narrative.[2] On December 5, Bartlett claimed Nick Offerman would appear on the show in a role close to his;[116] two days later, Offerman was announced to be playing Bill, replacing O'Neill who was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Our Flag Means Death.[117]:13:36[111] Mazin wanted gay men to play Frank and Bill, but after O'Neill's departure, he was drawn to casting Offerman at the suggestion of Strauss.[118]
Mazin felt inspired to cast a comedic actor like Offerman because "funny people have soul", a mantra he learned from Vince Gilligan, citing performances like Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad and Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul.[119] A scheduling conflict originally prohibited Offerman from accepting the role but he decided to take it after his wife Megan Mullally read the script;[118] he felt attached to the material and found a kinship with Bill due to his experience in crafting.[120] Director Peter Hoar, executive producer Evan Wells, and co-executive producer Jacqueline Lesko met Offerman and Bartlett and had dinner before production to better understand the characters.[121] Offerman was cleanshaven with short hair when he began working on the show; the production team decided to add long hair and a beard to demonstrate Bill's inability to express himself.[121] Bill's first line in the episode—"Not today you New World Orderjack-booted fucks"—was originally written as a description but Offerman insisted on saying it aloud.[122] Offerman selected some of the books and videos to place in Bill's entertainment area.[123]
A singing coach helped Offerman and Bartlett prepare for the piano performances; Bartlett was specifically coached to sing worse.[124] Offerman rehearsed the song with Mullally, a singer.[125]Cinematographer Eben Bolter recalled seeing Offerman's hands shaking between takes of the performance.[124] Mazin and Offerman—both heterosexual—sought advice and approval from gay men involved in the production, including Bartlett, Hoar, editor Timothy A. Good, and unit production manager Cecil O'Connor. Mazin ultimately considered their age more important than their sexuality as he wanted to explore a long, committed relationship;[117]:13:54 having been married for 27 years, he understood "there's a different kind of love" in long-term partnerships.[126] Mazin felt Offerman's inexperience in playing gay men added to the role, as Bill is similarly inexperienced in exploring his sexuality.[115] Offerman considered the role important as he hoped the representation helped to "break down [the] walls" of gender stereotypes.[127] In the sex scene, Offerman found Bill's discomfort "easy to channel" due to the crew members watching on set.[115]
Offerman and Bartlett's performances were highly praised;[22][128][129]Complex's William Goodman described them as a "career-best"[130] and Inverse's Dais Johnston found them Emmy-worthy.[131]TV Guide's Kat Moon similarly considered them deserving of Emmy nominations but felt Offerman's performance "demands special attention".[132] Regarding the recasting of Bill, The Guardian's Welch wrote "it's now hard to imagine anyone other than Offerman in that role".[133] Reviewers lauded Offerman's ability to portray Bill's gentler side, and Bartlett's eager and charismatic attitude as Frank;[134][135][136]TVLine named them the Performers of the Week.[137]Den of Geek's Boo wrote their "performance as a pair is pitch-perfect",[138] and Vulture's Keith Phipps praised their ability to convey emotions without dialogue.[139] Conversely, Vulture's Jackson McHenry found Offerman and Bartlett were "stuck in wooden roles acting out maudlin dynamics".[140] Bartlett and Offerman were nominated for several awards,[63][64][141][142] and Offerman won Outstanding Guest Actor at the Primetime Emmy Awards.[65]
Henry Burrell (Lamar Johnson) and his eight-year-old brother Sam (Keivonn Montreal Woodard) are hiding from a revolutionary movement in Kansas City, Missouri.[143][144] Henry betrayed resistance leader Michael to obtain medication for Sam's leukemia. After the movement, led by Michael's sister Kathleen, overthrows the government and takes control of Kansas City, Kathleen sets out to find Henry. Henry and Sam take refuge with a smuggler, Eldelstein. Ten days later, Eldelstein fails to return from a scouting trip and the brothers track down Joel and Ellie, whom they convince to help them escape. Henry proposes using the abandoned tunnels under the city to avoid Kathleen's followers. Joel hesitantly agrees while Ellie continues to bond with Sam.
After they leave the tunnels, a sniper pins down the group. Joel kills him, but not before he alerts Kathleen; she shortly arrives with an armed militia. As Kathleen prepares to kill Henry, a damaged truck crashes through the ground and releases a massive crowd of infected which quickly overwhelms her forces. Joel provides covering fire while Ellie rescues Sam and Henry. Kathleen corners them, only to be mauled to death by a clicker. The group flee. Later that night, Henry accepts Joel's invitation to join him and Ellie to Wyoming. Sam shows Ellie an infected bit him during the attack. She promises to stay up with him through the night but inadvertently falls asleep. The next morning, Sam, now infected, attacks Ellie; Henry grabs Joel's gun and kills his brother before killing himself. The next day, Joel and Ellie bury them.
Johnson and Woodard's casting as Henry and Sam was announced in August 2022.[143][145] Johnson recalled his casting process occurred quickly: he sent his audition tape on Monday, received the role by Wednesday, and departed for the set by Saturday;[146] by the following Wednesday, he started filming his scenes.[147] He had played the game and wanted to avoid imitation the original performance,[148] noting it had impacted him when playing.[149] He was nervous about the role due to the character's importance in the games, but found his nervousness prompted him to challenge himself. Mazin provided information to Johnson regarding Henry's backstory to help him understand the character.[146] Johnson felt Henry was hurt by his own actions against Michael, but Sam was ultimately more important to him.[150] Mazin and Druckmann had several long discussions regarding Henry's fate and considered many alternatives, but ultimately considered his suicide, like in the game, reflected that he had nothing left after Sam's death.[151]:59:37 Johnson found the scene emotionally draining due to his relationship with Woodard;[148] he "tried to be as present as authentic as possible" as he considered it the most important and iconic scene of the characters,[152] and felt Pascal did the same opposite him.[153] He was allowed to experiment with the scene, including performing lines similar to the game;[154] he wanted to portray Henry's shock and confusion at the sudden events.[155] Johnson considered Henry's final decision was to join his brother, as he felt the brothers had likely been religious their entire lives.[147] He recalled crying behind the camera with Webb during Ellie's final scene with Sam.[146]
Ramsey felt Sam brought out Ellie's childlike energy, which they largely attributed to Woodard.[156]:2:24 Mazin wrote Sam as deaf—a change from the game—to avoid his relationship with Henry feeling repetitious of Ellie's with Joel, which he felt would have been emphasized due to the different perspectives of the series.[151]:3:00 He had been watching the television series This Close (2018–2019)—which follows two deaf characters—and felt it may have influenced his decision.[151]:4:12 He found it automatically introduced intimacy to the scenes due to their quietness, which contrasted with Ellie's talkative nature.[151]:5:04 Druckmann was instantly drawn to the idea and wished he had included it in the game.[151]:5:32 Mazin hired This Close co-creator Shoshannah Stern to review the scripts.[151]:5:55 The production team faced difficulties in casting Sam; they were met with minimal candidates.[151]:6:26 In February 2021, Mazin distributed a casting call for a boy aged 8–14 who is deaf, black, and proficient in American Sign Language (ASL) or Black American Sign Language; Deaf West Theatre confirmed this was for the character of Sam.[157] He had expected to receive around 80 auditions, but ultimately got about five, including Woodard;[151]:7:53 it was his first acting role.[154]
Mazin felt Sam's leukemia was a more significant part of his story than his deafness.[151]:9:35CJ Jones, whom Mazin met through Stern, acted as Woodard's liaison to the crew and helped teach ASL to cast and crew;[151]:11:14 Johnson began learning the language via Zoom shortly after arriving in Calgary,[146] and spent his time away from set learning the language.[158] He did not want viewers to think his knowledge of the language was fake,[151]:11:14 and considered his performance important for deaf representation.[159][160] He felt spending time around Woodard for production gave him a better grasp on the language; Woodard would sometimes correct his mistakes in scenes.[161] Sam's age was reduced from the game to allow him to look up to Ellie;[151]:3:47 Mazin felt this justified his revelation of his bite to Ellie, which does not occur in the game.[151]:53:55 In portraying Sam's bravery, Woodard recalled his own experiences of being told to stay brave after his father died.[152] Johnson and Woodard worked on the series for two-and-a-half months.[155][162]
Johnson and Woodard's performances received praise; Push Square's Bayne wrote they brought "every bit of fear, love and charisma that you expected",[163] and IndieWire's Greene found them "exceptional in small moments", such as Woodard's desperation at their situation.[164]TVLine named Johnson an honorable mention for Performer of the Week;[165]IGN's Cardy lauded Johnson's emotional performance in his final scene,[166] and Total Film's Russell felt the naivety of Woodard's role intensified the narrative.[55] Johnson and Woodard were nominated for several awards,[63][64][91] including Outstanding Guest Actor at the Primetime Emmy Awards,[65] for which Woodard is the youngest ever nominee.[167]
Kathleen Coghlan (Melanie Lynskey) is the leader of a revolutionary movement in Kansas City.[169] She took control of the resistance after the death of her brother, Michael; she blames Henry for his death. After Joel and Ellie kill some of her men, Kathleen openly postulates that Henry was responsible for contacting the killers and orders her followers to search the city. Her second-in-command, Perry, shows her a vacated room where Henry had been living. The floor of the basement-level storage room is buckling, and underground something is moving. Perry insists they deal with the problem, but Kathleen orders him to hide the evidence until they find Henry. Later, Kathleen explains to Perry that Michael had told her to forgive Henry before his execution, but she vows vengeance anyway, and Perry agrees. After a sniper spots Henry and Sam with Joel and Ellie, Kathleen shortly arrives with an armed militia. As she prepares to kill Henry, a damaged truck crashes through the ground and releases a massive crowd of infected that wipes out her forces. In the chaos, Kathleen corners Henry, only to be ambushed and killed by a child clicker.
Lynskey's casting as Kathleen was announced alongside a teaser trailer for the series in September 2022. Kathleen is an original character[169] created by Mazin as the leader of a group of hunters who appeared in the game.[170] Druckmann found following antagonistic characters made the story more interesting, allowing an understanding and justification of their actions,[171]:16:44 as opposed to being seen as "obstacles" like in the game.[172]:2:42 Mazin compared Kathleen to Madame Defarge from Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities (1859): a revolutionary who becomes terroristic due to cruel circumstances, which allows the audience to empathize.[171]:19:49
Mazin, who was friends with Lynskey,[171]:20:13 reached out to her about the role and described the character as "a war criminal".[168] She was initially hesitant until Mazin pitched more about the character, describing her as someone who was forced into a role after the death of her brother, who "was basically Jesus".[173] She could relate to the character's motivations due to her relationship with her four siblings.[174] Mazin and Druckmann felt her casting was unusual as she has a "sweetness" that conflicts with Kathleen's position in the episode, an intentional decision to intrigue the audience;[171]:23:58 Lynskey wanted to play the character as "soft spoken and delicate" to juxtapose her violence.[173] She felt Kathleen was likely less intense prior to her brother's death but was forced to become hardened due to her circumstances.[168] In response to a comment from Adrianne Curry stating Kathleen's "body says life of luxury...not post apocolyptic[sic] warlord", Lynskey wrote the character was meant to be intelligent rather than muscly.[175] She later added she wanted to portray the character as "feminine, and soft-voiced, and all the things that we've been told are 'weak'", noting she was hoping to subvert expectations.[175]
Mazin and Druckmann did not want characters like Kathleen to feel like non-player characters from a video game, opting to give them full stories to humanize them and justify their actions.[151]:15:58 They felt adding a connection between Kathleen and Henry—and, by extension, to Joel and Ellie—made the storylines more effective and justified the different perspectives.[151]:21:00 Mazin wanted Kathleen's death to represent the notion of violent actions meeting violent ends, and Druckmann felt her obsession with justice led her to become distracted from her own survival.[151]:48:14 Lynskey knew of Kathleen's fate when she accepted the role. She found the scene easy to film due to the coordination of the team, as they had been planning for weeks.[176] Mazin found Kathleen being killed by a child important, as minutes earlier she had told Henry that children die all the time.[151]:50:27 Lynskey recorded her death sounds as automated dialogue replacement; Mazin and Druckmann directed her to "sound like someone was ripping your throat out".[173]
Lynskey's performance received praise.[177][178][179]Den of Geek's Boo wrote she "does a fantastic job of coming across as formidable and vicious while letting her character's humanity seep through just enough".[180]The Escapist's Darren Mooney lauded her juxtaposition of a "domestic archetype with something more primal and violent beneath it".[181]Total Film's Russell felt Lynskey's performance lacked the necessary intimidation,[182] and The A.V. Club's Cote found her delivery "edges dangerously close to end-times camp".[183] Lynskey received nominations at the Astra Creative Arts TV Awards[141] and Primetime Emmy Awards.[65]
Perry (Jeffrey Pierce) is Kathleen's second-in-command. He shows her a vacated room where Henry had been living. The floor of the basement-level storage room is buckling, and underground something is moving. Perry insists they deal with the problem, but Kathleen orders him to hide the evidence until they find Henry. Later, Perry agrees not to forgive Henry. When a massive crowd of infected is released, Perry tells Kathleen to flee, before he is torn apart by a bloater.
Pierce's casting as Perry was announced on July 15.[112] Pierce previously portrayed Tommy in the video games.[112] He reached out to Druckmann to offer his support for the series and "was lucky that something came up that fit";[184] he auditioned for a different role three times but Mazin and Druckmann felt his performance was unbelievable "as a victim", ultimately offering him the role of Perry about a week later.[185] Perry is an original character in the show who, according to Pierce, "has huge implications for things" that occurred in the game.[186] The script described him as a former military member.[184]
Marlon (Graham Greene) and Florence (Elaine Miles) are a Native American married couple who live in the wilderness of Wyoming;[143][187] despite Florence's wishes to the contrary, the couple isolated themselves decades before the outbreak.[188] They tell Joel and Ellie their whereabouts and warn them to avoid the dangers further west.[188] Žbanić revealed Greene and Miles's casting on December 9, 2021;[81] they were confirmed to be playing original characters Marlon and Florence in August 2022.[143] Mazin felt, like other pairings in the show, they echoed parts of Joel and Ellie's relationship.[189]:4:11The Washington Post's Park praised Greene and Miles;[187]Polygon's Pete Volk considered them the sixth episode's standout and wanted more content with them.[188]
Riley Abel (Storm Reid) is an orphaned girl who is Ellie's best friend at military school in post-apocalyptic Boston.[190][191] After being missing for weeks, Riley sneaks into Ellie's room. Ellie is angry with her for joining the Fireflies. Riley takes Ellie to an abandoned mall, where she shows her an escalator, carousel, photo booth, and arcade. When Ellie finds Riley's bed and homemade bombs, she confronts Riley about the Fireflies's violent philosophies. Riley reveals the Fireflies are moving her to the Atlanta Quarantine Zone, and she brought Ellie to the mall to say goodbye. Ellie initially storms out of the mall, but returns to Riley. The two dance together and Ellie desperately pleads with Riley not to leave. Riley agrees, and they kiss. An infected, drawn to the noise, attacks the pair. Ellie eventually kills it, but is horrified to realize both she and Riley have been bitten. Riley suggests they let themselves turn together, arguing that no matter how little time together they have left, it is worth fighting for.
Reid's casting as Riley was announced on January 14, 2022.[190] She was unfamiliar with the game prior to her casting; when approached to star in the show, she asked family and friends for their opinions on the game.[191] She watched snippets of gameplay to understand the emotion, but otherwise avoided the game to ensure an original take on the role;[192] she wanted to "hone in on" the manner in which Riley moves and "took up space".[191] Reid worked on the series for about a month.[192] Ramsey found Ellie and Riley's chemistry relatable and noted it made their performance easier. Ramsey and Reid had little time to bond prior to production.[76] They became close over the course of production; Reid called Ramsey "Mom" in one take.[193] Reid found the final scene emotional to perform as it was one of the last filmed.[194] Riley originally appeared in a downloadable content pack for the first game, The Last of Us: Left Behind.[190]
Reid's performance received praise;[195][196]Bleeding Cool's Tom Chang called it "award-worthy".[58] Several critics found her chemistry with Ramsey convincing and the episode's highlight.[197][198][199]/Film's Motamayor wrote Reid "gives a memorable performance that ... sticks with you long after the credits roll",[200] and Push Square's Bayne felt she effectively captured Riley's sense of "youthful pride".[201] Reid won Outstanding Guest Actress at the Primetime Emmy Awards[65] and Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series at the 7th Annual Black Reel Awards for Television.[202]
David (Scott Shepherd) is a preacher who is the leader of a group.[204][203] He and James encounter Ellie while she is hunting for deer. David explains he was a teacher, and found God after the outbreak and is now the leader of a group of survivors. The following day, David tracks her down and places in a cage at his camp. After Ellie notices an ear on the floor, David reveals he has been feeding his group the flesh of their deceased. He tells her he admires her strengths and violence and they could begin a relationship, but she breaks his finger. Ellie bites David as he and James grab her. Before they can kill her, she tells them she is infected, as proven by her bite mark. As David hunts her, she sets fire to the steakhouse. She stabs him with a kitchen knife, but he overpowers and attempts to rape her. Ellie grabs David's fallen meat cleaver and kills him in a frenzied attack.
Druckmann felt the series allowed a deeper look into the character's complexities than the game;[17] he and Mazin wanted to humanize David in his initial interactions with Ellie, before revealing more of his true actions when he slaps a young girl.[205]:20:11 Druckmann found David's goal of producing offspring through violence representative of some organized religions, and Mazin noted his goal to "secure a future" reflective of the ideologies of white supremacists.[205]:29:39 Shepherd's casting was revealed in the first trailer in December 2022.[206]
Shepherd's performance received praise.[207][208][209]CNET's Sean Keane called it "charismatic",[210] and IGN's Cardy considered him an effective adversary opposite Ramsey.[211]IndieWire's Greene lauded Shepherd's ability to deliver otherwise stereotypical lines;[212]The A.V. Club's David Cote wrote his performance "is masterful in its wry, understated charm".[207]
James (Troy Baker) is a senior member of a group of settlers led by David.[213] After encountering Ellie, James is sent back to camp to obtain penicillin. He joins David the following day as they track Ellie, and shoots and kills her horse and she attempts to flee. Ellie bites David as he and James grab her. Before they can kill her, she tells them she is infected, as proven by her bite mark. While they argue whether it is real, Ellie kills James with a meat cleaver.
Baker previously portrayed Joel in the video games.[214] Mazin and Druckmann considered Baker's inclusion in the series important due to his proximity to the games;[93] meanwhile, Baker never assumed he would be involved in the series,[215] except perhaps as a small cameo like a clicker.[216] Upon being approached by Mazin and Druckmann, Baker did not initially remember James from the games;[217] he expected a small role but was surprised by the character's significance upon reading the script.[218] Prior to the announcement of Shepherd's casting, rumors suggested Baker would play David, but he felt it "would've been too on the nose".[219][220] His casting was announced in June 2022,[214] and his character name was revealed in December.[213]
Baker did not want to portray James as a villain but as someone with truth and empathy,[221] reflected in his inability to shoot Ellie when prompted.[216] He considered James a pragmatist who believes "David is the Devil" and, as a result, wants to remain on his good side;[217] when Ellie's capabilities threaten to usurp James's position alongside David, he becomes defensive.[222] Abbasi directed Baker to pray in the opening scene, but Baker suggested otherwise, noting James "thinks it's all bullshit".[218] He felt James was likely preparing to enter law enforcement when the outbreak occurred, supporting his experience with weaponry and demonstrations of morality.[219]
Anna
Ashley Johnson, who portrayed Ellie in the video games, played Ellie's mother Anna in the series.
Anna (Ashley Johnson) is Ellie's mother.[10]:7:20[213] A heavily pregnant Anna flees a pursuing infected by hiding in a house. The creature breaks in and bites Anna as she gives birth to Ellie. Some time later, they are found by Marlene and a group of Fireflies. Anna asks Marlene to kill her and take Ellie back to Boston; Marlene hesitantly kills Anna and leaves with Ellie.
Johnson previously portrayed Ellie in the video games.[214] Druckmann was unable to explore Anna's story in the games but considered it personally important to include in the series;[10]:7:20 after the game's release, he wrote a short story about Anna, which was later intended to be adapted into an animated or live action short film or released as downloadable content but "it fell apart".[223][224] Mazin found the story "gorgeous" and upsetting and demanded its inclusion in the series.[225]:3:39 Mazin and Druckmann simultaneously thought of casting Johnson;[223] they considered her inclusion important due to her relationship with the games.[93] Abbasi was hesitant about working with actors from the games—he had also worked with Baker in the previous episode—as he feared it was gimmicky, but found they added authenticity to the project.[226]
Johnson cried after Druckmann offered her the role via text.[227] She watched some of Ramsey's performance to match Ellie's mannerisms as Anna,[228] and referred to her original combat style as Ellie for her fighting scene with an infected.[226] She watched videos of natural births to prepare for the role,[226] and recreated an in-game letter from Anna to Ellie and kept it in her pocket as a reminder of the character's origins.[228] The production crew considered dressing Anna in pants but found a dress more logical; Johnson felt its bright colors reflected the character "holding onto the old world a little bit".[229] Johnson's scenes were filmed over four days.[229] She was nervous about working on the series without Druckmann—he spent several months away from set—as it was one of the first times she had worked on a Last of Us project without him, but he insisted she trust Mazin.[230]
Den of Geek's Bernard Boo enjoyed Johnson's inclusion as Anna,[231] and Total Film's Bradley Russell lauded her simultaneous portrayal of "pain and maternal instinct".[232]
Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) is a soldier who seeks vengeance for a loved one and subsequently has her worldview challenged.[233] The production team wanted to start the second season's casting with Abby; casting for the role began before the strike,[234][235][236] and Dever became the frontrunner after the strike ended in November,[237] following the response to her performance in No One Will Save You (2023).[238] Her casting was announced on January 9, 2024.[233] Dever received additional security during production due to the controversial player response to Abby in Part II.[239]
Jesse
Jesse (Young Mazino) is an important member of his community whose selflessness sometimes comes at a cost. Mazino's casting was announced on January 10, 2024.[240] Mazino played the game before meeting with Mazin and Druckmann following the writers' and actors' strikes. He felt his performance in Beef (2023) secured him the role, allowing him to have "a conversation more than an audition process".[241] Mazino's preparation for production included firearm training and horse-riding.[241]
Dina (Isabela Merced) is Ellie's romantic interest and Jesse's ex. She is a freewheeling spirit with a loyalty towards Ellie, which is challenged by the world's brutality. Merced's casting was announced on January 11, 2024.[242] Before being cast, Merced had watched the first season but not played the games;[243] Mazin and Druckmann recommended that she watch gameplay of Part II on YouTube, but she opted to play it instead,[244] doing so in a weekend before meeting the writers,[243] which she felt made her more familiar with sets during production.[245] Merced felt Dina's light and playful personality matched her own.[246] After the first day of filming, she considered her chemistry with Ramsey "palpable".[247] She made a playlist for Dina and Ellie, and often played a song by Adrianne Lenker on set to establish the tone of their relationship.[248] Merced filmed the second season alongside Superman (2025), which she found difficult but worthwhile as a fan of the science fiction and superhero genres.[249]
Manny
Manny (Danny Ramirez) is a loyal soldier who fears failing his friends. He maintains a jovial attitude despite the pain of his past. Ramirez's casting was announced on March 1, 2024.[250]
Mel (Ariela Barer) is a doctor committed to her role while struggling with the realities of war. Barer's casting was announced on March 1, 2024.[250]
Nora
Nora (Tati Gabrielle) is a military medic who has difficulty accepting her past behavior. Gabrielle's casting was announced on March 1, 2024.[250]
Owen
Owen (Spencer Lord) is a gentle person whose physical strength forces him to fight enemies he does not hate. Lord's casting was announced on March1, 2024.[250]
Isaac
Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright) is the leader of a militia who faces an ongoing war in their pursuit for liberty. Wright's casting was announced on May 24, 2024; he reprises his role from The Last of Us Part II, the second actor to do so after Dandridge.[251]
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Neil Druckmann is an Israeli-American writer, creative director, designer, and programmer. He is the studio head and head of creative of the video game developer Naughty Dog, and is best known for his work on the game franchises Uncharted and The Last of Us, having co-created the latter.
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Ellie is a character in the video game series The Last of Us by Naughty Dog. She is portrayed by Ashley Johnson through motion capture and voice acting; in the television adaptation, she is portrayed by Bella Ramsey. In the first game, The Last of Us (2013), Joel Miller is tasked with escorting a 14-year-old Ellie across a post-apocalyptic United States in an attempt to create a cure for an infection to which Ellie is immune. While players briefly assume control of Ellie, the artificial intelligence primarily controls her actions. Ellie reappeared as the playable character in the downloadable content prequel The Last of Us: Left Behind, in which she spends time with her friend Riley. In The Last of Us Part II (2020), players control a 19-year-old Ellie as she seeks revenge on Abby.
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Joel Miller is a character in the video game series The Last of Us by Naughty Dog. In the games, he is portrayed by Troy Baker through motion capture and voice acting; in the television adaptation, he is portrayed by Pedro Pascal. In the first game, The Last of Us (2013), Joel serves as the main protagonist and is tasked with escorting the young Ellie across a post-apocalyptic United States in an attempt to create a potential cure for an infection to which Ellie is immune. He also appears briefly in the downloadable content campaign The Last of Us: Left Behind (2014). Joel is killed in The Last of Us Part II (2020) by a woman named Abby, whose father he had killed in the first game, prompting Ellie to seek revenge.
The Last of Us is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO. Based on the video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog, the series is set twenty years into a pandemic caused by a mass fungal infection, which causes its hosts to transform into zombie-like creatures and causes the collapse of society. The first season, based on 2013's The Last of Us, follows Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting the immune teenager Ellie across a post-apocalyptic United States. The second season, expected to partly adapt 2020's The Last of Us Part II, is set five years later and introduces Abby.
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"When You're Lost in the Darkness" is the series premiere of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us. Written by series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and directed by Mazin, the episode aired on HBO on January 15, 2023. The first episode of the first season, it introduced Joel and his daughter Sarah during the chaos of a global pandemic outbreak caused by a mutated form of the Cordyceps fungus that turns its victims into bloodthirsty attackers. Twenty years later, Joel and Tess set out to find Joel's brother Tommy and are tasked with smuggling the young Ellie in exchange for supplies.
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The second season of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us is set to premiere on HBO in early 2025. Based on the video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog, the series is set twenty years into a pandemic caused by a mass fungal infection, which causes its hosts to transform into zombie-like creatures and collapses society. The second season, based on the 2020 game The Last of Us Part II, follows Joel and Ellie five years after the events of the first season, and introduces Abby.
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The music for the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us was composed by Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming. Santaolalla composed the music for the video game franchise on which the series is based, including The Last of Us (2013) and The Last of Us Part II (2020). Several of Santaolalla's tracks from the video games were reused throughout the series; his work on the series focused on recrafting his previous work, while Fleming created original music inspired by real-world sounds within a decayed civilization.
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