Exclusive: Behind the Scenes with Jeffrey Pierce - The Last of Us Star Talks HBO Series
Jeffrey Pierce, known for his role in The Last of Us, discusses his experience with the HBO adaptation in an exclusive interview Delve into his thoughts on the TV series and Diego Luna's portrayal of Tommy in this exciting production
During a recent interview with Dexerto, Jeffrey Pierce, voice actor for The Last of Us, shared his thoughts on being involved in the HBO adaptation of the game and openly discussed his opinions on Diego Luna's portrayal of Tommy Miller. The Last of Us has become a monumental video game franchise, pushing boundaries and changing the way storytelling is emphasized in the gaming world.
With its strong focus on storytelling, it's no wonder HBO decided to turn the video game into a TV series. Finally, in 2023, the first season of The Last of Us was released after much anticipation.
The show received high praise right away, as fans lauded the authentic adaptation and the excellent casting, particularly Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie.
In The Last of Us video game franchise, Jeffrey Pierce portrays the character of Tommy Miller.
In the series, new cast members were chosen to portray each character, but several of the main voice actors from the video game franchise were also invited to join the series in different roles.
In an exclusive interview with Dexerto, Jeffrey Pierce, who voices Tommy Miller in The Last of Us games, walked through how he got involved in the TV series.
Taking on a different role for The Last of Us TV series
Despite portraying Tommy Miller in the video games, Pierce took on a completely different role for the TV show, appearing in several episodes as Kathleen's accomplice, played by Melanie Lynskey. This unexpected opportunity was more than Pierce had ever dreamed of. Reflecting on the experience, he shared, "It was truly special. Every single person on the crew, from the grips to the PAs to the set decorators, was a fan of the games and took the job for that reason. It felt like walking into a family I had known for 20 years. Really, really special."
Jeffrey Pierce brings the HBO original character Perry to life in the television adaptation of The Last of Us on HBO.
Pierce emphasized showrunner Craig Mazin's dedication to preserving the essence of the games in the TV adaptation, with Mazin, renowned for his work on Chernobyl, at the helm.
Craig is also a great fan of the games and wanted the essence of the game to be present in the show. Pierce went on to describe how he became part of the HBO series and expressed his genuine happiness at being involved in any capacity.
"I have no idea what Ashley and Troy did, but I immediately called Neil and told him I was in. Whether it's playing a clicker or a runner, I don't care. So when they mentioned the two episodes with Melanie Lynskey, I was all for it." As part of the TV adaptation and voicing a main character in the game, the actor faced unique challenges, but the excitement seemed to outweigh any confusion or difficulty Pierce may have encountered.
"It was truly exhilarating to embody a character in a different world. I found myself exploring new perspectives and making decisions that would distinctly define Perry and set him apart from Tommy. It felt like a thrilling tightrope walk, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience."
Jeffrey Pierce on Diego Luna’s portrayal of Tommy in HBO series
Diego Luna takes on the role of Tommy in The Last of Us TV series.
Of course, it wouldn't be right to talk about the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us with Pierce without getting his thoughts on Gabriel Luna's performance as Tommy throughout the show.
The voice actor commended Luna and confessed that he felt his portrayal of Tommy perfectly embodied the character and the essence he brought to the video games. "Man, if Gabriel had been subpar, it would have been hard to accept, but he's outstanding. During the premiere, my daughter nudged me and said, 'Dad, he sounds just like you,' and she was right."
Pierce praised Luna for treating Tommy as a human being and bringing his full self to the role. He expressed great honor for Luna's work, acknowledging the difficulty of embodying a real person in a biopic. Pierce commended Luna for perfectly navigating the challenge. Stay up to date with all things The Last of Us by checking out Dexerto's complete coverage for the latest news and updates.
Editor's P/S
Jeffrey Pierce, known for his role in The Last of Us, recently shared his experience with the HBO adaptation in an exclusive interview. He discussed his involvement in the TV series and Diego Luna's portrayal of Tommy. Pierce revealed that he was invited to join the series in a different role, as Kathleen's accomplice, Perry, despite voicing Tommy Miller in the video games. He expressed his excitement about being part of the production and praised showrunner Craig Mazin's dedication to preserving the essence of the games in the TV adaptation.
Pierce also shared his thoughts on Diego Luna's portrayal of Tommy, saying that he felt Luna perfectly embodied the character and the essence he brought to the video games. He commended Luna's performance and said that his daughter even noticed the similarities between his voice and Luna's. Overall, Pierce's involvement in the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us seems to have been a positive experience, and he expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to be a part of it.
