MOVIE NEWS – Joel and Ellie will soon be returning to our screens, as filming for Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us has officially concluded. Featuring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead roles, The Last of Us (based on the acclaimed video games by Naughty Dog Studios) is set 12 years into a global viral outbreak that transformed 90% of the world’s population into fungal zombies. Season 1 was a massive success, garnering 8 Primetime Emmy Awards despite strong competition from shows like Succession, Better Call Saul, House of the Dragon, and The Crown.

HBO swiftly approved Season 2, which will adapt part of the divisive second game in the series. Production for Season 2 commenced in February this year and has now been completed after six months, with the project moving into post-production. The completion of filming was announced by Timothy Good, an editor for The Last of Us, via X. Alongside images from a lively wrap party themed around The Last of Us, Good confirmed that the lengthy shoot has wrapped up, stating that the editing team “will bring your hard work home now!”

Wrapped! Congratulations to the incredible production crew of #TheLastOfUs season 2. We will bring your hard work home now!

The Last of Us Season 2 Will Include a Significant Time Jump

The HBO adaptation of The Last of Us, developed by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, has been praised as one of the finest video game adaptations ever. While staying true to the hit game, Mazin and Druckmann have also expanded on some of its less explored elements. The Last of Us Part II video game advances the story by 5 years, featuring a now-gray Joel and a 19-year-old Ellie. Observant fans have noticed hints in the first official Season 2 photos that confirm the new season will include this time jump.

In addition to significantly advancing the storyline—showing a world where Joel and Ellie have settled in the makeshift town of Jackson, Wyoming, with Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna)—Season 2 will also introduce important new characters. The most notable addition is Kaitlyn Dever’s portrayal of Abby, a character central to the controversy surrounding the second video game.

Without giving away spoilers, Abby makes a pivotal choice that drastically changes the narrative, a decision that has angered many fans worldwide. In fact, Abby’s portrayal has been so contentious that Isabela Merced (who plays Dina in Season 2) recently revealed that Kaitlyn Dever required extra security on set to ensure her safety from potentially upset fans.

Source: MovieWeb