Will Pedro Pascal's popularity impact The Last of Us Season 2 storyline and will his get extended in the show? Let's look at the possibilities.
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| The Last of Us Season 2 storyline to change because of Pedro Pascal? |
It's almost unbelievable that nearly a year has passed since HBO premiered "The Last of Us." But at least the official start date for Season 2 production was confirmed during a panel hosted by Variety, indicating Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey's return as Joel Miller and Ellie Williams, set to begin on February 12, 2024.
Well, Pascal, known for his standout roles in "Game of Thrones," "The Mandalorian," and the first season of "The Last of Us," has gained massive popularity. This popularity seems to have led HBO to delay Season 2's production to accommodate his busy schedule. But is his involvement so big that it could change The Last of Us Season 2’s storyline?
The Last of Us Season 2 storyline could change because of Pedro Pascal?
To begin with, the first season of "The Last of Us" adaptation mirrored the game's essence, depicting Joel's journey with an infected girl, Ellie in a zombie-ridden world. However, if you haven't played "The Last of Us Part II," then there must be some mystery around Joel and Ellie's upcoming journey.
There are several theories regarding how The Last of Us Season 2 will approach the sinister revenge plot of the game and whether Pedro Pascal's presence will impact the story in later seasons, possibly even extending his character's role over several seasons.
Well, Craig Mazin, the showrunner of The Last of Us, expressed openness to deviating from the original material. He and Neil Druckmann, the co-creator and executive producer, don't feel constrained by the original game's storyline expressed Mazin in an interview with Esquire, suggesting that Season 2 might diverge from the sequel's storyline.
However, Mazin's recent comments suggest that Season 2 might be a challenging adaptation of the game's sequel because important plot points—most notably Joel's future—could change. A major turning point that influences Ellie's path and themes of vengeance and forgiveness is Joel's death in "The Last of Us Part II." Moreover, changing this incident could significantly alter the character relationships and the show's storyline.
However, Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel, has won praise and become a fan favorite, making the idea of deviating from the game's storyline to preserve his character met with mixed reactions. While maintaining Joel's character can present new narrative options, it might also lessen the significance and core of the first story. The show's creators will have to strike a balance between satisfying fan expectations and fresh narrative possibilities.
One possible solution might involve expanding Pascal's presence in Season 2 compared to the game's storyline, possibly ending Season 2 where the game's second act begins, Joel's death.
While this is one possibility, another one is that the upcoming season will adapt the acclaimed video game sequel, The Last of Us: Part II (2020) as Bella Ramsey in an interview also hinted at the same. She expressed excitement for intense scenes and mentioned a significant focus on the Ellie and Dina storyline for Season 2 by mentioning the plot of the second game:
"I'm excited for the really intense stuff, because I did a bit of that in Season 1 obviously, but to do that. And actually more physical scenes because Ellie is obviously more physically fit in Season 2. I love stunt stuff, and like waking up with bruises the next day, and finding myself with a black eye, just because it feels like so good to have done it.
So I'm looking forward to doing that stuff, and also the Dina storyline. Because obviously, I had the one episode in Season 1 with Ellie and Riley, but to have it as a storyline throughout the whole of the second game in terms of Ellie and Dina is really exciting."
In addition, soon after the second season's reveal, series creator and original game creator Neil Druckmann also hinted that this would be the case in a tweet that simply read "Part II." Furthermore, Bella Ramsey in another interview hinted that she would receive more attention in the upcoming season than Joel did. She said, "I'm nervous about being potentially without Pedro for a while."
Well, the show's first season closely mirrored the plot of the first "The Last of Us" game, successfully balancing faithful adaptation with fresh narrative elements. It featured Joel's complex character development and his deepening bond with Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey. This approach won the hearts of both new audiences and long-time fans. So whether they decide to follow the original material or go a different route, there will be a big impact on the story and characters of the series.
It remains to be seen if Joel's character lives in Season 2, but whatever choices are made about Joel's character will surely shape the course of the show going forward.
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