Unveiling the Mesmerizing Evolution of Cordyceps Infected in The Last Of Us Season 2

Summary

Discovering the secrets to masterfully crafting lifelike infected beings in The Last of Us, the brilliant SFX artist delves into their multi-faceted approach that fuses elements of the game's source material, actual fungi found in our world, and their own artistic finesse.

The makeup team created a range of stages for the infected, beginning with simple two-dimensional makeup and gradually incorporating more elaborate silicone appliances as the infection advanced. The highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us will showcase an increased number of infected, highlighting the Cordyceps hive mind and introducing fresh designs and illnesses for the zombies. #TheLastofUs #infected #makeupdesign

An SFX artist shares the secrets behind the creation of incredibly lifelike infected in The Last of Us. The show portrays a world where the Cordyceps fungus takes over human brains, leading to the collapse of civilization as neighbors turn against each other. Twenty years later, Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) embarks on a mission to bring Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey), who is immune to the infection, to the researchers. Throughout their journey, they face not only the infected but also the dangers posed by other survivors.

As excitement mounts for the upcoming second season of The Last of Us, Barrie Gower, the makeup designer and VFX artist, reveals the process behind the creation of the realistic infected in an interview with Vanity Fair.

Gower explained that the meticulous process began by drawing inspiration from Neil Druckmann's favorite aspects of The Last of Us video game. The makeup team also collected various real-life mushrooms and fungi before creating a list of stages for the infected characters. Gower stated:

"We were incredibly inspired by the original video game created by Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog. We approached Neil and asked if he had a compilation of his favorite art from the game. He provided us with a folder containing around 10 to 15 images, which we combined with our own artwork and real mushrooms, fungi, and mold. When studying this fungus, we noticed a repetitive pattern with lots of holes and clusters, which my daughter and I are phobic of. We found it intriguing and believed it would also evoke that phobia in others. If we incorporated it into our work, we would likely be successful. For the infected characters, we used leaf miner shapes to create an intricate network of raised veins. We also referenced shelf mushrooms for the clickers. Our goal was to depict different stages of infection, ranging from recently infected humans to clickers and bloaters. The most exciting part was spending three to four months developing these stages. We began with two-dimensional makeup and gradually added prosthetics around the eyes, nostrils, and mouth to imply conjunctivitis and infection in those areas. Initially, we used a shallow but raised network of veins on the face to suggest that the parasite was racing towards the brain to infect the host. As we progressed to stage two and three, we introduced silicone appliances. By stages four and five, we utilized more extensive and expensive appliances for a fuller coverage. These appliances adhered so well to the actors' skin that attempting to remove them would result in skin damage."

How The Last of Us Season 2 Could Feature More Infected

The lack of infected presence in The Last of Us season 1 drew serious criticism. The focus of the season was on the human element of the apocalypse, with the infected serving as background elements. Their presence was alluded to, rather than experienced to the fullest extent. Additionally, Joel and Ellie often found it easy to escape from them when they did appear.

However, Craig Mazin, the co-creator of The Last of Us, has assured fans that season 2 will feature a greater number of infected. While season 1 prioritized character development, season 2 will delve deeper into the world at large. The infected will lurk around every corner, presenting a greater threat. Furthermore, season 2 will explore the Cordyceps hive mind in more detail, showcasing their ability to communicate across long distances instantaneously.

The upcoming season presents an opportunity to bring greater diversity among the infected. The first season of The Last of Us was immensely successful, and ongoing strikes by SAG-AFTRA and WGA could allow the VFX team to dedicate more time to developing fresh designs for the zombies. As Joel and Ellie continue their journey and time progresses between seasons, new types of infected with advanced stages of diseases will emerge. The second season of The Last of Us has the potential to leave a lasting impact on the nature of the infected.