HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere this April, and the cast list is expanding with six new actors joining the ensemble. According to a recent report by Variety, the new additions include Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria, Bombshell), Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Hettienne Park (Don’t Look Up), Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3), and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds).
These actors will bring to life both characters from the original The Last of Us Part II game and new characters created for the series. Joe Pantoliano will portray Eugene, a character who was a minor figure in the game but will have an expanded role in the show. Eugene, known as Ellie and Dina’s pot-smoking friend, will get more screen time, allowing viewers to delve deeper into his background and his relationship with the main characters.
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann shared with Variety that Eugene's expanded story will echo the approach taken with Bill in Season 1, offering fans a richer understanding of his connection to Joel and Ellie. Druckmann expressed enthusiasm about exploring Eugene further, stating, “I get excited when I see these opportunities. 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 play Seth, the bar owner and bigot known for giving out sandwiches in The Last of Us Part II. Noah Lamanna is set to portray Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend. Meanwhile, Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park will take on the roles of new characters Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.
These new cast members will join the previously announced stars, 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.
The Last of Us Season 2 will debut on April 13, bringing the events of The Last of Us Part II into the live-action realm. For those eager to learn more, you can explore why the show is planned to span four seasons and hear from Neil Druckmann about the inclusion of some "pretty brutal" cut content from the original video game sequel.
