Last of Us Season 2 Adds Six to Cast

HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, premiering this April, has expanded its impressive cast with six new additions. Variety revealed the exciting lineup, including 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).

This latest casting announcement features both characters from the original games and entirely new creations. Pantoliano will portray Eugene, Ellie and Dina's friend from The Last of Us Part II. While a minor character in the game, the show will expand upon his backstory, mirroring Season 1's treatment of Bill. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann explained to Variety that this expansion will delve deeper into Joel and Ellie's relationship. Druckmann stated, “I get excited when I see these opportunities…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.”

Burke will play Seth, the bigoted bar owner from Part II, while Lamanna takes on the role of Kat, a character who dated Ellie prior to the game's events. Ubach, Ahlers, and Park will portray new characters: Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.

These newcomers join the already stellar 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 suggesting Part II's adaptation will span multiple seasons, further surprises are expected as the episodes unfold.

The Last of Us Season 2, adapting the events of The Last of Us Part II, premieres April 13th. For more information, explore articles detailing the potential four-season arc and Druckmann's comments on the inclusion of "pretty brutal" cut content from the game.