The cast of the TV series The Last of Us managed to please quite a bit with their performance. The plot, which is an adaptation of the franchise, PlayStation games, follows a post-apocalyptic world that manages to be extremely well represented by the live action series available on Max, formerly HBO Max.
In today's article, we'll delve deeper into each of the main characters in The Last of Us, analyzing in detail their roles in the story and also the backgrounds of the actors who play them. If you're looking for interesting facts about this lively cast, you've come to the right place! Let's check it out together!
Storm Reid as Riley Abel
Riley Abel is a teenage girl introduced in The Last of Us' Left Behind DLC. She was Ellie's friend before the main events of the series and was by Ellie's side when the protagonist was attacked by an infected, but without showing any symptoms of infection. Their friendship, already hinted at in the series' trailers, will likely be explored in flashbacks.
Storm Reid, known for her role as Gia Bennett in Euphoria, plays Riley in the TV series The Last of Us. Her performance has been well-received, highlighting the depth and complexity of the character. Reid brings genuine emotion to the role of Riley, helping to build her relationship with Ellie and contribute to the growth of the series' plot.
Merle Dandridge as Marlene
Marlene is the leader of the Boston Fireflies, a guerrilla group formed after the Cordyceps outbreak. She opposes FEDRA, considering it an authoritarian institution, and seeks to restore a more just government. Marlene is the one who requests that Joel and Tess transport Ellie to another Firefly group in Massachusetts. In addition, she keeps Ellie's potential as a possible cure for the infection a secret.
Merle Dandridge, who voiced Marlene in both games in the franchise, is part of the cast of The Last of Us TV series. The actress, who was also responsible for the character's motion capture, is widely recognized for her work in video games, including voicing Alyx Vance in Half-Life 2. Her performance in The Last of Us was positively received, bringing great depth to the leader of the Fireflies.
Murray Bartlett as Frank
Frank is a small character in the games. The Last of Us, but is mentioned by Bill as a former exploration partner around the city. In the series, the relationship between the two will be deepened with a change in the original script, where they live together in an isolated city. This new context will give more emphasis to the dynamic between Bill and Frank.
Murray Bartlett, best known for his role as hotel manager Armond in The White Lotus, plays Frank in the cast of The Last of Us TV series. His performance has been well-received, bringing a new perspective to a character who initially had a much smaller presence in the games. Bartlett adds a layer of complexity to the relationship between the characters.
Nick Offerman as Bill
Bill is one of Joel and Tess's contacts in Boston, and is an overprotective explorer who is paranoid about invasions. His behavior initially causes Ellie to dislike him, but he is essential to their survival, searching for food, medicine, and tools throughout the city. In the series, Bill's partner is Frank, as mentioned above.
Read also: Meet The Cast Of The Witcher TV Series
Bill was originally going to be played by Con O'Neill, known for his role in "Our Flag is Death", but the actor turned down the role due to scheduling issues. Instead, the character was taken on by Nick Offerman, who is part of the cast of the TV series The Last of Us. His performance was praised, bringing many more layers to the character.
Anna Torv as Theresa “Tess” Servopoulos
Tess is Joel's tough companion, assisting him on smuggling missions within Boston. In the series, it is hinted that she has a romantic relationship with Joel, an addition that was not explored in the games. It is also Tess's idea to help Marlene by transporting Ellie to Massachusetts, a decision that initially displeased Joel.
Tess is portrayed by Anna Torv in The Last of Us TV series. Her character is portrayed as tough and unafraid to get into a fight, which aligns with the character's strong nature in the game. Torv's performance has been widely praised for bringing to life a deeper Tess than the one presented in the game.
Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller
Tommy is Joel's younger brother and the protagonist's main help in escaping the initial outbreak. Presented as a relaxed person, the character follows his own path, joining the "Fireflies" as a soldier, which ends up distancing the two. When Joel discovers that Tommy has left the group, he embarks on a journey to find his brother again.
The Last of Us TV series stars Tommy as Gabriel Luna. Luna's performance was well-received, bringing a new dimension to the character by exploring both his relationship with Joel and his own internal conflicts within the Fireflies. The dynamic between the brothers becomes a central part of the series' plot.
Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams
Ellie is a 14-year-old orphan who spent most of her life in the care of FEDRA, the agency responsible for responding to the outbreak. After escaping, she ended up in a Firefly facility, where her fate began to intertwine with Joel. Initially seen as a burden by him, their relationship evolves into something more sisterly during their explorations together.
Protected by Marlene, Ellie carries within her body a possible response to contain the outbreak of Cordyceps, the fungus responsible for the pandemic. Despite being infected, she does not develop the disease like the others, which makes her role vital to the hope of a cure. The character is played by Bella Ramsey in the cast of the TV series The Last of Us and received praise for her emotionally charged performance.
Nico Parker as Sarah Miller
Sarah is Joel's only daughter and Tommy's niece. In the year of the outbreak, 2003, she was preparing for her father's birthday when the devastating event occurred. Much like the original game, the series begins under the eyes of Sarah, who leaves her home unaware of what is about to happen.
Read also: How to Watch X-Men Movies in Chronological Order!
Unfortunately, Sarah dies in Joel's arms during the escape from the city, after being shot by a soldier with orders to attack civilians. This tragedy deeply scars Joel, leaving him bitter forever. Actress Nico Parker, who is part of the cast of the TV series The Last of Us, brings a very sensitive portrayal of the character.
Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller
Joel is the central character in The Last of Us, a seasoned and tough smuggler struggling to survive in the devastated post-pandemic world. He is driven by his protective instincts, especially after the loss of his daughter Sarah early in the outbreak. Joel's relationship with Ellie is a central plot point, exploring themes of fatherhood, trust, and survival.
Pedro Pascal plays Joel in the cast of The Last of Us TV series, delivering an intense and emotionally nuanced performance. His ability to capture the character's toughness and vulnerability has been widely praised. Like the other cast members of The Last of Us, Pascal delivers an engaging performance that brings depth to the protagonist, establishing a strong connection with the audience.
Conclusion
These are the main names among the cast of the TV series The Last of Us. Each of them had an important role in the game, having been maintained or even expanded for the live action. But what about you? Have you watched the series? What did you think of it? Tell us about your experience in the comments! Take a look at our article revealing Who is in the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?!
Questions that might interest you
Does the series maintain the same narrative as the game?
The series maintains the essence of the game, with subtle changes to add depth to the plot. Highlights include the relationship between Tess and Joel and the dynamic between Bill and Frank, with the latter gaining more prominence in the series.
How did Pedro Pascal prepare for the role of Joel?
Pedro Pascal didn't do much preparation to play Joel, but he said he hadn't played the games in the franchise so as not to end up "copying too much" the Joel from the game.
