The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal is slated to star in HBO’s newest high-profile series adaptation of the critically acclaimed PlayStation game entitled The Last of Us, according to Deadline. The series, hailing from video game designer Neil Druckmann and Chernonyl creator Craig Mazin, is set twenty years after the destruction of modern civilization. Pascal will play the role of Joel, a survivor, who is tasked with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones), out of a quarantine zone. During their long, arduous journey to safety, both characters are forced to rely on each other for survival.
This role will only add to Pascal’s resumé. He is already an immensely popular and acclaimed actor for his characters in HBO’s well-known series Game of Thrones and Disney+’s popular series The Mandalorian, which was most recently nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series. In addition, the actor is known for his role in Wonder Woman 1984 as the villain, Max Lord, as well as his roles in Narcos and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. As Deadline reports, Pascal will “continue to star on the Star Wars series, where he is used sparingly because of the nature of his character, though The Last of Us has him in first position.” Following the endless amount of press attracted by The Mandalorian, Pascal has received multiple offers from streamers and networks, ultimately deciding on The Last of Us.
The pilot episode of the upcoming series adaptation will be directed by Kantemir Balagov (Beanpole) while Druckmann and Mazin will write and executive produce alongside executive producer Carolyn Strauss, who worked on both Game of Thrones and Chernobyl.