"The Last of Us Season 2 Adds Six to Cast Before April Premiere"

HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 is expanding its cast with six new additions as it gears up for its premiere on April 13. Variety has provided insights into how the live-action series will further develop the story from the original game.

The new actors joining the show are 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 portray both characters from the game and new additions to the series.

Joe Pantoliano will take on the role of Eugene, a character from The Last of Us Part II who was Ellie and Dina’s friend known for his laid-back attitude. In the game, Eugene had a minor role, but Season 2 promises to flesh out his character more significantly. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann shared with Variety that Eugene's backstory will be expanded, similar to how Bill's story was enriched in Season 1. Druckmann expressed enthusiasm about exploring Eugene's character more deeply, noting that it would enhance the narrative around Joel and Ellie's relationship.

Robert John Burke will portray Seth, the bar owner from The Last of Us Part II, while Noah Lamanna will play Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend. Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park will introduce new characters named Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.

These new cast members will join the already impressive lineup that includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. Given that the events of The Last of Us Part II are expected to span multiple seasons, fans can anticipate more surprises and character developments as the series unfolds.

For more on The Last of Us Season 2, you can read about the potential for the story to be told over four seasons and learn from Neil Druckmann about the inclusion of "pretty brutal" cut content from the original game.