Today has been a big day for HBO's upcoming The Last of Us series, an adaptation of Naughty Dog's infamous post-apocalyptic franchise.
The two chapters in the franchise so far star smuggler, Joel, and a young girl, Ellie, who may provide the key to ending the zombie apocalypse.
The Last of Us which will be run by Chernobyl creator, Craig Mazin, has been confirmed to star Game of Thrones ' Bella Ramsey in the role of Joel's young companion, Ellie .
Earlier today reports were circulating that the studio was looking to take a surprising direction in casting Mahershala Ali as Joel , claims which have now been proven false as the role has been officially cast.
THE LAST OF US DUO COMPLETE
Deadline has reported that The Mandalorian star, Pedro Pascal, will take up the coveted role of Joel in the upcoming HBO series.
Pascal, who previously rose to fame on HBO as Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones , currently stars as the lead of the hit Disney+ series, The Mandalorian.
WAS PASCAL THE BEST CHOICE?
The casting for The Last of Us has been a contentious matter ever since the series announcement. Some of the most popular fan picks for the role have included stars like The Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman, or Pascal's Game of Thrones co-star, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
While Pascal's name hadn't been thrown around too much for the role, he makes plenty of sense. The actor's name recognition stems from his role on HBO's previous hit series, and he is currently leading the biggest series streaming at the moment with The Mandalorian .
It's clear to say the actor will bring the intended star-power to the role which is sure to draw the attention of viewers who aren't familiar with the renowned gaming franchise. Pascal can definitely bring the needed gruffness to the role, and he certainly has the acting chops to reach for the depth needed as well, so it seems the series is in safe hands.
With Ellie actress, Bella Ramsey, also stemming from Game of Thrones fame with her role as Lyanna Mormont, it's likely the two have had some interaction in the past which is sure to create some solid chemistry on screen.
It remains unclear when the series will drop on HBO, however, with Pascal currently between seasons of The Mandalorian , it's likely HBO will capitalize on the opportunity to begin filming soon. This could potentially allow for the series to premier in late 2022, which would mean a big year for Pascal as the third season of his hit Star Wars series is also set to debut.