HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 is set to expand its cast with six new actors ahead of its highly anticipated premiere on April 13. Variety recently shared insights into how the live-action series will further develop the narrative from the source material, introducing both familiar and new characters to the fold.
The newly announced cast members include Joe Pantoliano, known for his roles in Memento and The Matrix, Alanna Ubach from Euphoria and Bombshell, Ben Ahlers of The Gilded Age and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Hettienne Park from Don't Look Up, Robert John Burke, who appeared in RoboCop 3, and Noah Lamanna from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
These additions will bring to life characters from The Last of Us Part II as well as introduce new faces to the series. Joe Pantoliano, for instance, will portray Eugene, a character previously seen briefly in the game as Ellie and Dina's friend. In Season 2, Eugene's role is set to be expanded, giving viewers a deeper look into his background and connection to Joel and Ellie's relationship. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann expressed excitement about fleshing out such characters, drawing parallels to the expansion of Bill's story in Season 1.
Robert John Burke will take on the role of Seth, the bar owner and bigot from The Last of Us Part II, while Noah Lamanna will play Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend. Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park are set to play new characters named Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.
This fresh ensemble joins the already impressive lineup for Season 2, including Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. The showrunners have indicated that the events of The Last of Us Part II will be explored over multiple seasons, hinting at more surprises to come.
For fans eager to learn more, The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on April 13. Additional insights suggest the series may span four seasons to fully tell its story, and Neil Druckmann has teased that some "pretty brutal" cut content from the original game will make its way into Season 2.