Bringing a live-action adaptation of one of the beloved games in the past decade from Naughty Dog is HBO with the series of the same name, The Last of Us. Check out the star-studded cast that headlines the post-apocalyptic drama show arriving in January 2023.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Who Will Be in the HBO Series?
The Last of Us will follow Joel, a smuggler, who would have to escort Ellie, a child, through a post-apocalyptic United States plagued with the infected and human hunters.
Naughty Dog first released the action-adventure game, The Last of Us, in 2013 which was published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is a third-person perspective game where players go through a post-apocalyptic United States and they can use firearms and improvised weapons to defend themselves from the infected.
The Last of Us is created and written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO as a TV series set to release in January 2023 with Gustavo Santaolalla as the composer. Mazin and Druckmann are executive producers as well with Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Rose Lam, and Carter Swan.
One of the most awaited series of 2023, The Last of Us promises to bring faithfulness to its source material and break the hearts of everyone who will be watching the series, much like that in the game. Check out the actors and actresses who will bring life to the characters in The Last of Us.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Pedro Pascal as Joel
Perdo Pascal banners The Last of Us as Joel, a man who got an immeasurable loss in the midst of the apocalypse and he has been given the task to escape the quarantine zone to smuggle a child, Ellie, across the barren wasteland of the remains of the US, to a medical facility called Fireflies, one run by a rebel militia.
Describes as the protector, Joel continues to hold on to his painful past whilst accepting the mission to deliver Ellie as he discovers how important the little girls is to the resistance, and possible the last hope of humanity.
Pedro Pascal is best known for his roles Din Djarin in The Mandalorian, Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones Season 4, and Javier Peña in Narcos. His other projects include Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The Great Wall, The Adjustment Bureau, and Wonder Woman 1984 among others.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Bella Ramsey as Ellie
Perdo Pascal reunites with another Game of Thrones star with Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Called as the last hope, Ellie is a 14-year-old defiant girl who may possibly be the only remaining light for humanity's survival in the post-apocalyptic world as she discovers she is immune to the Cordyceps brain infection.
Joel would have to transport Ellie to a medical facility where she could possibly hold the vaccine or cure to the infection. They would have to travel safely from Massachusetts to Colorado where they would not only face the infected but also human hunters.
Bella Ramsey plays Ellie and she is best known for her roles as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, Mildred Hubble in The Worst Witch, and Jane Grey in Becoming Elizabeth.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Gabriel Luna as Tommy
The soldier, Gabriel Luna plays Tommy, the younger brother of Joel who is full of ideals. He is a former soldier who joined the resistance movement called the Fireflies who are trying to make the world better despite the ongoing apocalypse.
Despite being brothers, Joel and Tommy are on different ends in terms of their perspectives. Joel dwells in his past while handling the mission whereas Tommy is more proactive in his ideals that the world can still be better.
Gabriel Luna is best known for his roles as Robbie Reyes/ Ghost Rider in Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, Tony Bravo in Matador, Paco Contreras in Wicked City, and Rev-9 in Terminator: Dark Fate. He also appeared in Bernie, Freeheld, Transpecos, and Gravy.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Merle Dandrige as Marlene
The leader and matriarch of the Fireflies, Merle Dandrige plays Marlene, who stands as the head of the resistance against the military operations in the quarantine zone as they try to rebuild a new world in the middle of the apocalypse.
Ellie's mother entrusted Ellie to Marlene being her close friend but she would have to break this promise as she sends Ellie into the unknown with Joel with Ellie possibly being the last hope that humanity has to survive the infection taking the lives of the majority of the living.
Merle Dandrige is not a stranger to The Last of Us as she already performed the same character in the game. She is also known for her roles in Sons of Anarchy and The Night Shift. She's a Broadway performer as well in Jesus Christ Superstar, Once on This Island, Rent, and Spamalot.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Anna Torv as Tess
The smuggling partner of Joel, Anna Torv plays Tess, a woman hardened by the apocalypse with the grit and the capacity to do the unthinkable for the success of the mission and she would do everything to survive against the infected through the hell they are in.
Anna Torv is best known for her roles as FBI Agent Olivia Dunham in Fringe where she got tons of accolades under her belt, and as Wendy Carr in Mindhunter.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Nick Offerman as Bill
Known as the survivalist, Nick Offerman plays Bill, and he replaces Con O'Neill who was first cast for the role. Bill lives in isolation, a trap-filled town, where Joel and Ellie would have to pass through to get on their journey to Colorado.
Nick Offerman is a veteran actor, comedian, writer, producer, and carpenter best known for his roles as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation where he got accolades in various award giving bodies. He also played Richard McDonald in The Founder, and Karl Weathers in Fargo.
READ MORE: The Last of Us Releases On The Big Screen Three Days Early in New York City
The Last of Us Character Guide: Keivonn Woodard as Sam
The younger half of the brothers, Keivonn Woodard plays Sam, the deaf child who is being hunted by various violent revolutionaries. He is with his older brother, Henry. He is artistic, but it should be noted that he isn't deaf in the game so his role in the series could add more to the drama and dynamic of the narrative.
Keivonn Woodard is deaf in real life and he is the first Black deaf young actor to have been tapped to play a role in a major series like The Last of Us.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Lamar Johnson as Henry
The older brother of Sam is Henry, played by Lamar Johnson. The brothers are forced to go hiding from Kathleen's revolutionaries in Kansas City, and along the way, they meet Joel and Ellie. Being the older one, Henry does everything to protect his deaf younger brother.
Henry and Sam's storyline is one of the originals from the game where they met Joel and Ellie in Pittsburgh where they team up to survive the infected and other human hunters. They also have philosophical discussions pertaining to religion.
Lamar Johnson plays Henry and he is best known for his roles as West in The Next Step, Seven Carter in The Hate U Give, and Charlie in All the Bright Places.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Murray Bartlett as Frank
The optimist of the bunch, Murray Bartlett plays Frank, another survivalist with Bill who is only talked about in the game but with his inclusion in the series, it just shows that the series may dwell in the narrative where Joel and Ellie would pass through their trap-filled town.
Murray Bartlett is a veteran actor with various roles in the past like Dominic "Dom" Basaluzzo in Looking, Michael "Mouse" Tolliver in Tales of the City, and Armond in The White Lotus where he got an Emmy Award for Outstanding Best Supporting Actor.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Storm Reid as Riley
Playing Riley Abel is Storm Reid, the only friends of Ellie. Much like the lead character Ellie, Riles is an orphan of the apocalypse and she grew up in Boston. her appearance in The Last of Us shows that the TV series will have some narratives from Left Behind which is a prequel to the original title.
Storm Reid is best known for her roles in A Cross to Bear, 12 Years a Slave, Sleight, and A Wrinkle in Time where she got tons of accolades at an early age.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Nico Parker as Sarah
Playing one of the most pivotal roles in The Last of Us is Nico Parker as Sarah, Joel's daughter. Together with Joel in the onslaught of the infection, her world fell apart while they are in Austin, and she discovers what her father, Joel, can do to protect their family.
Nico Parker is the daughter of director Ol Parker, and actress Thandiwe Newton, making her acting prowess a hereditary one. She appeared as Milly Farrier in Dumbo.
The Last of Us Character Guide: Other Characters in the Cast
Other cast members include Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen who is the leader of Kansas City's revolutionary movement, Jeffrey Piece as Perry who is no stranger to The Last of Us as he played Tommy in the game and now, he's a rebel in the quarantine zone, and Ashley Johnson as Anna, a pregnant survivor.
Graham Greene portrays Marlon and Elaine Miles plays Florence, a couple living in Wyoming, both are original characters in the TV show, and Troy Baker as James and he previously played Joel in the video game.
Are you ready to see The Last of Us? It premieres on HBO on January 15, 2023.