Co-creator Craig Mazin started directing the season 2 premiere of HBO’s smash hit The Last of Us in British Columbia this week — production began on Monday, February 12th.
Season One of The Last of Us was about Pedro Pascal’s survivor Joel Miller taking charge of and becoming a father to Bella Ramsey’s Ellie during a global fungal pandemic.
New cast member Isabela Merced, who plays Ellie’s new girlfriend Dina, spoke about the start of season 2 production at the Madame Web world premiere on Monday night in Los Angeles.
Merced had been in Vancouver for several weeks with Craig Mazin and season two castmates Bella Ramsey and Young Mazino as production ramped up.
Merced has had a taste of filming with Bella Ramsey’s Ellie, already.
I’ve already gotten a taste. There’s something called Day Zero in productions. It’s like not technically the Day One but that was just me and Bella [Ramsey] the whole day. And then Craig was directing, Craig Mazin the creator, and he is phenomenal. …I’m excited to get back there. I’m going back there tomorrow. — Isabela Merced to Variety on Monday night at the Madame Web premiere.
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.
Season one left us with Joel and Ellie heading back to Jackson, Wyoming, a thriving community of survivors from the fungal pandemic led by Joel’s brother Tommy Miller (Gabriel Luna).
Related: The Last of Us Season 2’s New Jackson Under Construction in British Columbia?
Production moved from Alberta to British Columbia for season 2 and built a massive private western town set at Britannia on the Sea to Sky Highway. Is this a replacement for Canmore, Alberta?
You can see the pile of logs on the ground ready to build the wall?
Joining The Last of Us in season 2 are:
Kaitlyn Dever as Seattle militia group soldier Abby.
Young Mazino as Jackson scout Jesse.
Isabela Merced as Ellie’s Jackson girlfriend Dina.
As well as a new character played by Catherine O’Hara.
Returning for season 2:
Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller with his season 2 back bun.
And there’s an impressive new lineup of directors joining Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann:: Emmy-winning Succession director Mark Mylod (who won for the episode when Logan Roy died), Nina Lopez-Corrado, Stephen Williams and Kate Herron via Deadline: Hollywood.
The Last of Us Season 2:
Episodes: 7.?
Working title: MEGA SWORD
B.C. filming dates: February 12 2024 – August 21 2024.
Co-Creators/Writers: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann.
Directors: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, Peter Hoar, Mark Mylod, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Stephen Williams, Kate Herron.
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Young Mazino, Isabela Merced., Catherine O’Hara, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley.
Sound stages: Bridge Studios.
Season 2 of The Last of Us is expected to premiere on HBO in 2025.