HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere on April 13, and the cast is expanding with six new actors joining the already impressive lineup. Variety has provided insights into how the live-action series will further explore the universe established in the video games.
The new additions to the cast 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 starred in RoboCop 3, and Noah Lamanna from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
These actors will portray a mix of characters from the original The Last of Us Part II game and new characters created for the series. Joe Pantoliano will take on the role of Eugene, a character from the game who was Ellie and Dina's friend but had minimal screen time. In Season 2, Eugene's character will be fleshed out, similar to how Bill's backstory was expanded in Season 1. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann shared with Variety that Eugene's expanded role will delve deeper into the dynamics of Joel and Ellie's relationship.
Robert John Burke will play Seth, the bar owner from The Last of Us Part II known for his bigotry, while Noah Lamanna will portray Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend. Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park will bring new characters to life: Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.
Joining these new faces are the returning stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. Given that the events of The Last of Us Part II are planned to unfold over multiple seasons, fans can anticipate more surprises and character developments as the series progresses.
For more information on The Last of Us Season 2, you can explore why the show is set to span four seasons and learn about Neil Druckmann's plans to include some "pretty brutal" content cut from the original game.
