Season 2 of The Last of Us won’t be out for some time, but the cast of the HBO video game adaptation is already vibing together in Vancouver before filming begins. Zarak by Afghan Kitchen shared a photo on Instagram, spotted by The Last of Us News on X (formerly Twitter), that united Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, and Young Mazino, the actors behind Ellie, Dina, and Jesse, for the first time, alongside executive producer Jacqueline Lesko and series co-creator Craig Mazin. It’s a brief glimpse at what’s to come in 2025 as they prepare to embark on a long and painful journey full of grief and revenge in the post-apocalypse.
The trio figure to spend a lot of time together as Season 2 adapts the sequel to Naughty Dog’s best-selling classic. Assuming Mazin and Neil Druckmann hem close to the plot of the game, Ellie, Dina, and Jessie share an awkward history thanks to their past relations, yet they all band together as close allies and help guide Ellie during a traumatic journey. Ramsey, of course, is already very familiar with the cordyceps-infected world of The Last of Us, earning an Emmy nomination for their masterful turn, but Merced and Mazino should fit right in, coming off high-profile projects of their own including Madame Web and Beef respectively.
Ramsey, Mazino, and Merced may be all smiles in the photo, but The Last of Us has a looming threat on the horizon for all three with Kaitlyn Dever‘s Abby. Long seen as the perfect fit for the role, Dever will have big shoes to fill as the main antagonist to Ellie, who has held a grudge against Joel (Pedro Pascal) ever since his decision at the end of Season 1. Despite her opposition to the pair viewers have grown to love since the show premiered, The Last of Us is all about showing the human sides of these characters, demonstrating how violence and vengeance only begets more bloodshed. No matter what side they’re on, this talented cast is bound for a painful and emotional ride in Season 2.
Ellie Will Step Into the Spotlight in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2
Without getting too deep into spoilers from The Last of Us – Part II, the new season will be far more Ellie-centric than the first. Her new and returning allies, enemies, and, in Dina’s case, love interest will also get more screentime as Pascal‘s Joel likely takes a step back. Season 1, at its heart, was all about Joel finding love and hope again in the apocalypse thanks to his travels with Ellie. Abby’s introduction will break up that dynamic, and force Ellie to embrace the violence her surrogate father showcased in their journey. With production finally set to begin after shutting down amid the WGA and SAG strikes, we’re closer than ever to seeing how Mazin and Druckmann decide to tackle the end of the pair’s heartbreaking tale.
The Last of Us Season 2 will begin filming in Vancouver on February 12. All of Season 1 is now streaming on Max. Stay tuned to our full guide here for everything you need to know as production gets underway. Check out the photo of Ramsey, Merced, and Mazino above.
via Collider