Is Pedro Pascal's Latest Role in The Last of Us Season 2 a Perfect Match for the Video Game?
Discovering Joel's fate in The Last of Us season 2 remains a mystery even to Pedro Pascal The talented actor supports blind casting in both movies and TV shows, emphasizing the importance of diversity in the industry
Summary
Uncertainty surrounds the fate of Joel in The Last of Us Season 2, following the divisive reception of his character's death in the video game sequel.
The show is expected to center on Ellie's personal quest, while possible modifications to the plot bring about uncertainty concerning Joel's involvement. Pedro Pascal advocates for blind casting in films and TV series, emphasizing the significance of not constraining characters to racial identities in order to achieve better representation.
Potential spoiler warning for The Last of Us Season 2.
A question arising from HBO's successful adaptation of The Last of Us is whether Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, will face a similar fate in season 2 as depicted in The Last of Us Part II. The TV series, based on the popular 2013 video game, is set in a post-apocalyptic America that has been ravaged by a contagious Cordyceps virus, transforming people into zombie-like beings. While the main storyline focuses on Joel, a cunning smuggler responsible for escorting a young girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the country, the show also showcases compelling supporting characters like Bill (portrayed by Nick Offerman) and Frank (portrayed by Murray Bartlett).
Pedro Pascal Doesn't Know Joel's Fate In The Last Of Us Season 2
: The Last of Us season 2 (and potentially season 3) will continue the narrative of The Last of Us Part II, with a particular focus on Ellie and her personal journey. However, due to the polarizing nature of the game, especially regarding Abby's role as a playable character, it is highly likely that The Last of Us season 2 will introduce alterations to the storyline. Consequently, the pressing question remains: Will Joel encounter a similar dark fate in The Last of Us season 2?
Joel, a character from The Last of Us Part II, meets a tragic fate early in the game when he is slain by a faction of former Fireflies, led by Abby. It is later revealed that Abby is the daughter of the surgeon whom Joel had to kill in order to save Ellie during the events of The Last of Us Part I. With Ellie desperately attempting to rescue Joel, she is held back by some of the ex-Fireflies and forced to bear witness in terror as Abby mercilessly beats her adopted father to his demise. This particular occurrence has emerged as one of the most contentious moments in Part II. Thus, it remains uncertain at the present time how faithfully Mazin and Druckmann intend to adapt this storyline.
When asked about the fate of Joel in the upcoming second season of The Last of Us, Pascal expressed uncertainty, stating in an interview with Variety, "I don't know. I feel like Part Two allows for more flexibility. It seems to offer a different and immersive experience, where certain events need to occur for the central storyline to progress. It appears to have a slightly more open approach." While Pascal is greatly beloved by fans of the show and no one wants to see his departure from the series, the sequel game has introduced some remarkable new characters, making the potential cast for The Last of Us season 2 something worth anticipating.
Pascal Is In Favor Of Blind Casting In Movies & TV Shows
In an interview with Variety, Pedro Pascal expressed his enthusiasm for greater inclusion in film and television through blind casting. He emphasized the importance of change and recommended casting actors in roles that do not restrict characters to a specific racial identity, particularly when adapting familiar intellectual properties or books. HBO's The Last of Us exemplified this approach by featuring color-blind casting, with actors such as Pascal as Joel, Gabriel Luna as Joel and Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. These actors truly embraced their roles, making it difficult to envision anyone else in their place.
