Game of Thrones actors Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal – who also starred in Disney’s Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian – were cast in HBO’s television adaptation of the striking video game series The Last of Us. They will take on the roles of Ellie and Joel in the upcoming drama.
The Hollywood Reporter released the news of the adaptation last March, and since then speculation about the cast has abounded. Fans on social media initially chose Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever for the role of Ellie, and the actor showed interest. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that Mahershala Ali of True Detective has been approached for the role of Joel.
Neil Druckmann, author and creative director of the games, responded to the announcements on Twitter, said: “We are delighted that Bella has joined the TLoU family!” He later wrote: ‘Aaaaand there is the other half. Stoked to have Pedro on board our show! ”
The HBO engagement was written by Craig Mazin, the creator of the award-winning Chernobyl miniseries, and the screenplay is by Druckmann, and will follow the events in the original Last of Us game. Joel, who is the surviving survivor, is 20 years after a zombie pandemic swept through North America, the task of transporting teen Ellie nationwide to a lab where a drug is being developed. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the screenplay will also feature material from The Last of Us 2, set five years after the original game. In a BBC radio interview, Mazin hinted that the TV version would fill in and expand the story, but would not undo any elements already established in the games.
There is no news on when the Last of Us series will air, but the co-production with Sony Pictures Television is the first in a new series of adaptations. In 2019, Sony announces the founding of PlayStation Productions, dedicated to TV and movie productions of PlayStation game franchises. The division is also producing the upcoming adaptation of the action-adventure game Uncharted, starring Tom Holland.