(from deadline.com) HBO has found one of its leads for the upcoming The Last Of Us series. Deadline confirmed that Game of Thrones breakout star Bella Ramsey, known for appearing as the pugnacious but brave Lyanna Mormont, will play Ellie.
Though HBO has yet to announce who will appear as Ellie’s companion, Joel, the series based off Neil Druckmann’s 2013 video game is getting into shape. In January the premiere cable network announced that Beanpole helmer Kantemir Balagov will direct the pilot. Druckmann will team with Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin to pen the television adaptation.
The Last Of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed by a sickness that renders victims dangerous, blood-thirsty mutants. Hardened survivor Joel is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, breathtaking journey as unlikely duo depends on each other for survival.
In addition to her memorable character on Game of Thrones, Ramsey has also appeared in HBO’s His Dark Materials, The Worst Witch, Two for Joy and Princess Emmy. She is repped by Conway van Gelder Grant and Gang Tyre.
HBO first announced the video game series back in March, with the show landing an official series order in November. Eight years after the first game, Naughty Dog released The Last of Us Part II in June. The sequel game won a number of prizes at The Game Awards in December including Game of the Year.
In one of the biggest TV castings of the year, The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal is set to headline The Last Of Us, HBO’s high-profile series adaptation of the Sony Playstation franchise from Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.
Pascal’s Joel, tormented by past trauma and failure, must trek across a pandemic-ravaged America, all the while protecting a girl who represents the last hope of humanity.
This marks a homecoming for Pascal, who became a household name with his role as Oberyn Martell on HBO’s mega hit Game Of Thrones.
Pascal currently stars in Disney+’s hugely popular and acclaimed series The Mandalorian, which recently received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama Series. He will continue on the Star Wars series, where he is used sparingly because of the nature of his character, though The Last Of Us has him in first position.
The actor recently became available for a new series, attracting multiple big offers from top premium networks and streamers, opting to do The Last Of Us.
Pascal is coming off starring as the villain, Max Lord, in Wonder Woman 1984. The Narcos and Kingsman: The Golden Circle star is currently in production on Judd Apatow’s The Bubble for Netflix. He is repped by WME, Anonymous Content and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Kantemir Balagov is directing the pilot episode of The Last Of Us, a co-production with with Sony Pictures Television. PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
