Young Mazino (Beef, Fish Bones, Good Boy) a rising star in Hollywood, spoke to Variety about his preparation for Season 2 of The Last of Us. Mazino is known for his breakout role as Paul Cho in the Netflix series Beef.
Mazino’s role in Beef was celebrated by critics and won a nomination for the 2024 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie.
Mazino is now set to star in the new season of The Last of Us. He joins Kaitlyn Dever (No One Will Save You, Booksmart, Last Man Standing) and Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Instant Family, Madame Web) as new additions to the cast. When asked about his shooting schedule, Mazino corrected the Variety reporter, saying that filming would begin in conversation on the red carpet in two weeks.
Mazino spoke to Variety about how he came to land the role as Jesse. “After the strike ended, I was able to get a meeting with the showrunners and we kind of just shopped it up. I played the video game before the meeting and we had a long talk about their process and what they’re looking for. I guess ‘Beef’ pushed me the rest of the way. That’s the beauty of where I’m getting at now. It’s a conversation more than an audition process.”
According to his interview with Variety, Mazino learned how to ride a horse and went through firearm training as part of his preparation for the role.
Though Mazino has not yet met his co-stars, he expressed his excitement about the meeting to Variety and said, “I have DM’d Bella, but I haven’t had the pleasure of talking to them, but I will soon.”
Beef was highly successful at the 2024 Emmy Awards, winning five awards of the 14 they were nominated for.