The second season of The Last of Us is set to begin filming next month, and HBO has begun to round out the show's supporting cast. On the heels of the news that Kaitlyn Dever will play Abby, Deadline reports that another key role has been filled.
Young Mazino, who will be best known for his performance as Paul in Netflix's Beef, has been cast as Jesse.
Described as “a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at terrible cost,” Jesse is a close friend of Ellie's in The Last of Us Part II video game, and accompanies her on her mission to track down Abby.
“Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him,” said series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. “We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show.”
Dever and Mazino join returning stars Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie.
There are quite a few roles yet to be filled, including the likes of Dina, Owen, Mel, Yara and Lev, so expect more casting announcements over the next couple of weeks.
The Last of Us is set 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed and centers on the relationship between Joel, a smuggler in this new world, and Ellie, a teenager who may be key to a cure for a deadly pandemic. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle the 14-year-old girl out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey as they traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
Season 1's cast also featured Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, Elaine Miles as Florence, Ashley Johnson as Anna, and Troy Baker as James.
Production on the second season is scheduled to begin this January in Vancouver, since a significant part of the story in The Last of Us Part II game is set in the Pacific Northwest.
The Last of Us is written and executive produced by Mazin and Druckmann. Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Rose Lam also executive produce.
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