The showrunners behind HBO’s adaptation of Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic action-adventure hit, The Last of Us, have found their leads. Joel will be played by popular actor Pedro Pascal, who currently stars in Disney’s The Mandalorian series, while Game of Thrones actress Bella Ramsey is set to portray Ellie. The castings were initially confirmed by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, respectively.
“Based on the critically acclaimed video game The Last of Us, developed by Naughty Dog exclusively for the PlayStation platforms, the story takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed,” reads a synopsis shared by Deadline. “Joel (Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Game of Thrones‘ Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.”
“Pascal’s Joel, tormented by past trauma and failure, must trek across a pandemic-ravaged America, all the while protecting a girl who represents the last hope of humanity.”
“Ramsey will play Ellie, a 14-year-old orphan who has never known anything but a ravaged planet and who struggles to balance her instinct for anger and defiance with her need for connection and belonging … as well as the newfound reality that she may be the key to saving the world,” The Hollywood Reporter added.
True Detective (Season 3) and Alita: Battle Angel star Mahershala Ali was reportedly in discussions for a potential role in HBO’s The Last of Us, but it appears that the deal fell through. It might be that Ali is wrapped up in his other projects, which include Marvel Studios’ Blade—the actor is set to replace Wesley Snipes in the titular role.
ICYMI: Bella Ramsey To Play Ellie In ‘The Last Of Us’ At HBOhttps://t.co/mxAnSuqGE8
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 11, 2021