HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 is gearing up for its premiere on April 13, and the cast list just got a significant boost with six new additions. These exciting updates come from a recent report by Variety, providing fans with a closer look at how the live-action adaptation will expand on the beloved source material.
The new actors joining the series are 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, seen in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. These talented performers will bring both familiar characters from the original games and new faces to life in the upcoming season.
Joe Pantoliano is set to play Eugene, a character originally introduced as Ellie and Dina's pot-smoking friend in The Last of Us Part II. While Eugene had a minor role in the game, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have plans to delve deeper into his background, much like they did with Bill in Season 1. "I get excited when I see these opportunities," Druckmann shared with Variety. "I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Eugene that well!’ The story we told [in the game] was somewhat superficial. The way this character comes in really gets to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship."
Robert John Burke will portray Seth, the bar owner and bigot from The Last of Us Part II, while Noah Lamanna will take on the role of Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend. Meanwhile, Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park will play new characters named Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.
These fresh faces will join the already impressive lineup, 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 hinted that the narrative of The Last of Us Part II will be spread across multiple seasons, promising more surprises as the episodes unfold.
For those eager to learn more about HBO's ambitious follow-up, Variety offers insights into why the show may be set to span four seasons. Additionally, Neil Druckmann has teased that Season 2 will include some "pretty brutal" content that was cut from the original sequel video game, ensuring fans a thrilling continuation of the story.
