After a massive surge in viewership, HBO has officially greenlit The Last of Us for a second season. The acclaimed adaptation of Naughty Dog’s video game is a sweeping apocalyptic drama that stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
The show takes place 20 years after a deadly fungal brain infection transforms most of the world into violent cannibals. It follows grumpy smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and his teenage companion Ellie (Bella Ramsey).
Based on the video game
In 2013, California video game developer Naughty Dog released an epic, emotionally resonant single-player adventure set a few decades after a fungal brain infection decimates the majority of the world’s population. The Last of Us follows grumpy smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and his upbeat teen companion Ellie as they journey across a post-apocalyptic United States.
The first season adapted nine episodes from the game, directed by David Mazin and written by Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann. The series is a joint production by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint and Naughty Dog.
The first season of The Last of Us aired on HBO and HBO Max, and pulled in 4.7 million viewers for the premiere and 5.7 million for the second episode. It’s the biggest week 2 audience growth for an HBO Original drama series.
Set in a post-apocalyptic United States
The Last of Us is set in a post-apocalyptic United States, where millions have died and people are controlled by Cordyceps fungi that are essentially zombies. The story follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and his teenage daughter Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they make their way across a bleak and dangerous America.
The show’s apocalyptic setting may remind viewers of other popular video game-based series, such as “Game of Thrones” and “Station Eleven.” But it also has its own unique spin on the genre.
While the apocalyptic world is scary, its inhabitants have a sense of humor about it. For instance, when Joel and Tess walk through a trash-filled town, they find a box of tampons in an old store.
The series does an impressive job of evoking a sense of grit and resilience against the odds. Survivors like Joel and Ellie are driven by a desire to protect themselves and those they care about, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey
Based on the wildly popular video game, The Last of Us centers on a hardened survivor named Joel (Pascal), who’s hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie (Ramsey) across a post-apocalyptic United States.
The two actors share a chemistry that has fans buzzing. And their bond goes far beyond the screen. In a new interview, the pair share their favorite moments on set and how they carry that special chemistry into their lives outside of work.
Despite their busy schedules, the actors manage to get together for an interview each week and have a blast. During our recent chat, the duo laughed and answered some tough questions.
The Last of Us is a hit among fans and is proving to be a success for HBO. Its first season has surpassed 22 million viewers in its domestic run, up nearly five times from its premiere night. It’s also drawing a massive boost from social media, trending No. 1 on Twitter during its series debut.
Renewed for a second season
The Last of Us, the television series based on the popular video game series by Naughty Dog, has been renewed for a second season at HBO. The show, which debuted in January, has received a lot of positive attention from both critics and casual viewers.
Its second episode aired last Sunday in the United States and reached 5.7 million viewers, a 22% jump over its first episode. That marks the largest week two audience growth for an HBO original drama series, according to HBO.
The show was praised for its authenticity and strong performances by the cast, including Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, respectively. Moreover, the series has an excellent 97 percent critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The series also stars Anna Torv, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Storm Reid, and Jeffrey Pierce. It has already been renewed for a second season, which is a very good sign for Naughty Dog and HBO.