Filming of The Last of Us season 2, with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, was scheduled to start early next year in B.C., but has been delayed due to this year’s long Hollywood shutdown.
The striking Writers Guild of America (WGA) reached a deal with the Hollywood Studio/Streamers (AMPTP) in late September after 148 days on the picket lines but the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strike that began July 14th and reached 112 days today is not settled. A.I. is reportedly the sticking point.
The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal on a SAG picket line in September.
Season 2 of HBO’s smash hit The Last of Us likely won’t premiere until 2025 at this rate.
What’s it about?
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 14-year-old 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.
Has there been any progress on season 2?
Set in the Pacific Northwest.
The end of the Writers Strike in late September meant The Last of Us co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann could get back to work writing scripts for season 2.
The pair wrote all the season one scripts and will continue to do so in season 2.
Craig Mazin told EW he had outlined all of season 2 and even managed to submit the season two premiere script to HBO ahead of the May 2nd Writers’ Strike.
We were able to map out all of season 2. And I also wrote and submitted the script for the first episode and sent it in [to HBO] around 10:30 or 10:40 p.m. right before the midnight …. strike began — Craig Mazin told EW.
Almost five months later, Mazin posted on the news of a deal that once the strike was officially lifted they would get back to work.
Very proud of the WGA and its membership and excited to get back to work on The Last of Us Season 2. The strike has not been officially lifted , but the second it is we will spring into action! — Craig Mazin on Threads.
And so they did.
But the SAG strike continues on.
The Last of Us Season 2:
Working title: MEGA SWORD.
Co-Creators/Writers: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann.
Target B.C. filming dates:
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey.
We left Joel and Ellie in the season one finale overlooking Jackson, Wyoming, after Joel’s big lie:
Does she look like she believes him?
Season One Awards:
The Last of Us season one was named Program of the Year in June at the Rockie Awards gala at the Banff World Media Festival in Alberta.
The Last of Us scored 24 Emmy nominations in July for its first season, including nominations for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Performances by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey..
Alberta was named Outstanding Film Commission in August for The Last of Us season one locations, like Canmore as Jackson, Wyoming.
