HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, premiering this April, expands its cast with six noteworthy additions. Variety revealed the new actors joining the show: 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 additions encompass both established characters from The Last of Us Part II and entirely new roles. Pantoliano will portray Eugene, Ellie and Dina's friend, whose role will be significantly expanded from the game. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann explained to Variety that, similar to Bill's expanded role in Season 1, Eugene's backstory will be explored more deeply, enriching the narrative surrounding Joel and Ellie's relationship. Druckmann noted the excitement in expanding on characters, stating the game's portrayal of Eugene was "somewhat superficial," and the show's version will delve into the heart of Joel and Ellie's dynamic.
Burke will play Seth, the bigoted bar owner from Part II, while Lamanna takes on the role of Kat, a character who dated Ellie before the events of the game. Ubach, Ahlers, and Park will portray new characters: Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.
This impressive ensemble joins the already star-studded cast, including Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. With previous hints from the showrunners suggesting the events of Part II will span multiple seasons, further surprises are anticipated.
The Last of Us Season 2 adapts the events of The Last of Us Part II, premiering April 13th. For further insights, explore articles detailing the potential four-season arc and Druckmann's comments on the inclusion of "pretty brutal" cut content from the game.
