This character [Joel] means the world to me. I’ve been with this for many, many years. You’ve done it justice and then some. And for that I’m incredibly grateful– Neil Druckmann to Pedro Pascal.
Pedro Pascal returned to season 2 of The Last of Us last June to shoot flashbacks of Joel Miller’s five years as Ellie’s Dad in Jackson up until the eve of his death.
On Pedro Pascal’s last day of filming in Vancouver, crew gathered in the Wyoming Natural History Museum set with the HBO show’s co-creators Neil Druckmann (whose video game begat the show) and Craig Mazin and co-star Bella Ramsey to pay tribute.
Pedro Pascal hugged Bella Ramsey on the last day.
You guys are the best that I’ve ever seen and been a part of. There’s nobody like you guys. — Pedro Pascal.
There’s no place like Canada — Pedro Pascal.
Related: The Last of Us – Pedro Pascal Shot Joel Flashback Scenes Last June in Vancouver
Each of the Joel and Ellie flashbacks is structured around one of Ellie’s birthdays in Jackson.
We start with her 15th birthday when Joel gifts her a guitar which he teaches her to play.
Ellie’s 16th birthday celebration is the happiest we’ve ever seen Joel and Ellie as he surprises her with a trip to a forgotten Wyoming natural history museum to see the dinosaur and space exhibits.
Ellie and Joel n the Apollo 15 space capsule.
Ellie’s 17th birthday is a bust when Joel catches her smoking pot and fooling around with Kat (Noah Lamanna) as she gets a tattoo to cover up the scar on her arm. Ellie asks for space and they move her into the garage.
Related: The Last of Us – Joel & Ellie Find Eugene on Vancouver’s Mount Seymour
On Ellie’s 19th birthday, Joel gifts her with her first patrol, but when they’re called to a serious situation on another trail, Joel’s decision to shoot newly infected Jackson resident Eugene (Joe Pantoliano) before he can say goodbye to his wife, leads to a rupture with Ellie.
You swore! – Ellie.
Nine months later, on the eve of Joel’s death, we get to see the famous porch scene from the game. Ellie forces Joel to tell her the truth about what happened at the Fireflies hospital in Salt Lake City and there is the beginning of a reconciliation. She won’t forgive him but she’s willing to try.
Joel dies the next day at Abby’s hands as we saw in episode 2 of season 2.
Pedro Pascal won’t be back for season 3.
Here he is dining with Joe Pantoliano at Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill in Yaletown last June during the filming of season 2’s episode 6.
Inside episode 6:
The Last of Us returned to its massive Jackson set at Minaty Bay to film the Joel flashbacks on June 5th, 7th, 12th, 13th and on July 2nd last year. Some of it was reshoots of Tommy vs the Bloater in the Battle of Jackson for episode 2.
The Joel, Ellie and Eugene scenes were shot on Mount Seymour’s Mystery Lake and Goldie Dam trail on June 24th and 25th.
The Last of Us Season 2:
Episodes: 7.
Working title: MEGA SWORD
B.C. filming dates: February 12 2024 – August 23 2024.
Additional photography in September 2024 and January 2025.
Co-Creators/Writers: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann (and Halley Gross).
Directors: Craig Mazin, Mark Mylod, Peter Hoar, Kate Herron, Stephen Williams, Neil Druckmann, Nina Lopez-Corrado.
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Kaitlyn Dever, Danny Ramirez, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord.
Guest stars: Catherine O’Hara ,Robert John Burke, Jeffrey Wright, Alanna Ubach,, Ben Ahlers, Hettienne Park, Noah Lamanna, Joe Pantoliano.
Sound stages: The Bridge Studios.
