The Last of Us became one of HBO's biggest hits when it premiered earlier this year and it prompted the network to order an early renewal for a second season which will be based on the acclaimed video game sequel The Last of Us Part II.
For the past few months, we've been hearing some updates about its development. However, with the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, the show's sophomore season is now expected to get delayed as writers are currently not allowed to do any work while the strike is happening.
A recent report from Variety provided the latest update on the development of the second season of The Last of Us where they revealed that the casting session has been put on hold earlier this week.
Before the temporary suspension, the casting team was meeting with different actors and asked them to read lines from The Last of Us Part II since no scripts for the second season have been completed yet. Filming was planned to begin early next year in Vancouver.
Showrunner Craig Mazin has not done any writing or producing duty (including casting) for the series ever since the strike commenced. Neil Druckmann is also currently not doing any work for the second season.
It's not surprising to hear that The Last of Us has paused its casting session since we've also seen several other shows shutting down their pre-production and production as the strike is happening and this won't be the last time that we'll hear any news like this.
While it might be unfortunate for fans to hear this disappointing update about the development of the second season, it is also necessary as the WGA members are currently fighting for better pay, working conditions, and livelihood and they will not stop until the studios offer a fair deal.
Also Read: Craig Mazin Says The Last of Us Season 2 Will 'Move The Bar Up'
The first season of The Last of Us is currently streaming on HBO Max.