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Imagine tall grass growing on this street, grimy abandoned cars and weathered and boarded up storefronts.
That’s how The Last of Us plans to turn downtown Nanaimo into a post-apocalyptic Seattle neighbourhood this month for season 2 of HBO’s acclaimed video-game adaption.
(Washington plates spotted on a Gastown set in Vancouver this week confirm The Last of Us is in Seattle now).
What is The Last of Us?
The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed by a fungal pandemic. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle teen Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse across the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
In season 2, we meet new characters like Ellie’s new friend Dina (Isabela Merced) and scout Jesse (Young Mazino) in Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel and Ellie settle after the events of season one.
Ellie’s Jackson crew (That’s co-creator Craig Mazin on the left).
In another storyline, we meet skilled soldier Abby Anderson (Kaitlyn Dever), who’s seeking vengeance for those she loved:
And her Seattle militia crew: loyal soldier Manny (Danny Ramirez), young doctor Mel (Ariela Barer), military medic Nora (Tati Gabrielle) and Owen (Spencer Lord).
The Last of Us crew is in town building a storefront set at Diana Kroll plaza today and will be dirtying up the street over the next week.
Two blocks of Commercial Street will be closed to public for about five days so that characters can walk down (ride down?) Skinner Street into Commercial Street.
Will there be Clickers aka fungus zombies?
Downtown Nanaimo Phases Map. Click for more information.
The Last of Us Season 2:
Episodes:
Working title: MEGA SWORD
B.C. filming dates: February 12 2024 – August 21 2024.
Co-Creators/Writers: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann.
Directors: Craig Mazin, Mark Mylod, Kate Herron, Peter Hoar, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Stephen Williams
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Young Mazino, Isabela Merced, Catherine O’Hara, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Danny Ramirez, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord.
Sound stages: Bridge Studios.
Season 2 of The Last of Us is expected to premiere on HBO in 2025.