‘The Last of Us’: Who will play the role of Ellie in this live-action series?
The Last of Us is a popular video game series from Naughty Dog. The original 2013 game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where people who breathe in a mutant fungus spore turn into aggressive zombies known as the Infected. Players, in the original game, control Joel, who is tasked with smuggling a teenage girl Ellie through this wasteland in order for scientists to study her immunity to the spores.
The Last of Us, considered one of the best videos of all time, was so popular that it spawned a sequel, which was released in 2020. In this game, the player controls an adult Ellie who is on a mission of revenge against Abby, who killed her adopted father Joel. Similarly, The Last of Us Part II was released to critical acclaim and reignited interest in the original game.
Unsurprisingly, Hollywood has tried to adapt the beloved series to film. Given the hit or miss nature of video game films? Maybe, a TV show is a better route to go. The Last of Us was picked up for a television series at HBO, who has probably been looking for its next big series after losing its heaviest hitter in Game of Thrones. Here’s everything that you need to know about the upcoming show.
The Last of Us: The basics
The Last of Us is created by director for the game Neil Druckmann & Chernobyl’s Craig Mazin. Having Druckmann aboard is a solid move because, well, he knows the game and the characters inside and out. Apparently, he also knows things that were cut from the game that could make things interesting for the series in terms of character development & plot.
The Last of Us will take in things from the 2013 game along with a DLC prequel, The Last of Us: Left Behind, which follows Ellie before the events of the first game. In addition, Druckmann & Mazin will be adding in new things that were dreamed up, but couldn’t fit in the original game. As Mazin said in BBC’s Must Watch webcast:
“Neil [Druckmann], at one point, he was like, ‘You know, there’s one thing we were talking about [doing in the first game] for a while,’ and then he told me what it was, and I was like — gonk! — OK, jaw drop, that’s going in. We have to do that.” He added, “The things that are new and enhancing of the storyline that we’re doing are connected in organic, serious ways that I think fans of the game and newcomers alike will appreciate.”
Who is in The Last of Us?
Casting for The Last of Us is currently underway. Key roles have been filled and commented upon the internet. The chief of these is Pedro Pascal as Joel, who apparently is typecast as “grumpy man who ends up becoming daddy” based off The Mandalorian and Wonder Woman 1984. You know what? We’re not going to be angry about it. It’s a good sort of typecasting.
Baby lesbian BAMF Ellie, however, is going to be played by Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones). Ramsey is already known for playing the BAMF-est of characters. She played the always ready to throwdown Lyanna Mormont on Game of Thrones. And she did it so well. Honestly? She’s the best casting for the role of Ellie that we could honestly imagine since we can’t age regress Ashley Johnson, who voiced the character, to a teen.
Gabriel Luna, who played Ghost Rider on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., is set to play Joel’s brother Tommy. Today, we have Nico Parker (Dumbo) joining the cast as Joel’s biological daughter, Sarah.
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Are you excited for HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us? What do you think of the cast? Let us know in the comments down below!
