The Last of Us Season 2 Cast Adds Six Names Ahead of April Premiere

HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, premiering this April, expands its cast with six notable additions. Variety revealed the new actors joining the ensemble: Joe Pantoliano (known for Memento and 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 in Season 1, Eugene's backstory will be explored in greater depth. Druckmann noted the opportunity to delve into Eugene's character, stating, “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 takes on the role of Seth, the bigoted bar owner from Part II, while Lamanna plays 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.

This impressive lineup joins the already established 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 the adaptation of Part II will span multiple seasons, further surprises are anticipated as the season unfolds.

The Last of Us Season 2, adapting the events of The Last of Us Part II, premieres April 13th. For further insight, explore articles discussing the potential four-season arc and the inclusion of "pretty brutal" cut content from the game, as mentioned by Druckmann.