"The Last of Us Season 2 Adds Six to Cast Before April Premiere"

HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 is set to expand its universe with six new cast members ahead of its much-anticipated premiere on April 13. According to Variety, the actors joining the series are Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria, Bombshell), Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Hettienne Park (Don't Look Up), Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3), and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds).

These additions will help bring to life both characters from the original game and new faces in the adaptation of The Last of Us Part II. Joe Pantoliano, for instance, will take on the role of Eugene, a character previously known as Ellie and Dina’s pot-smoking friend in the game. While Eugene had a minor role in the sequel, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have promised that his backstory will be fleshed out in Season 2, much like Bill's was in Season 1. Druckmann expressed excitement about this expansion, noting that Eugene's story will delve deeper into the dynamics between Joel and Ellie.

Robert John Burke will portray Seth, the bar owner and bigot from The Last of Us Part II, while Noah Lamanna will play Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend. Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park will introduce new characters to the series: Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.

The new cast members join an already impressive lineup, including Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. The showrunners have hinted that the narrative of The Last of Us Part II will unfold over multiple seasons, promising more surprises as the episodes are released.

For those eager to learn more about HBO's follow-up season, you can explore why the show is set to span four seasons and discover what "pretty brutal" cut content from the original game will be featured in Season 2, as shared by Neil Druckmann.