Bella Ramsey: A second season of The Last of Us is “pretty likely”
By Dan Selcke
The Last of Us is a hit for HBO. The zombie drama posted excellent numbers for its season premiere, and they only grew with its second episode. And yet we haven’t heard of HBO renewing the show for a second season, even though the original Last of Us video game has a sequel ripe for adaptation. Should we be worried?
According to star Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, “If people keep watching, I think [a second series] is pretty likely. It’s down to the guys at HBO. There’s nothing confirmed yet so we’ll have to wait and see.”
The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann talk as though they’re getting a second season; for instance, they’ve spoken about ideas they cut from season 1 they may bring back later. But we haven’t heard anything official. I wish HBO would step on it. The network renewed the Game of Thrones prequel show House of the Dragon for a second season right after the series premiere aired. The Last of Us could be just as successful.
Bella Ramsey sees billboards for The Last of Us while failing her driver’s test
If you’re not watching The Last of Us, Ramsey gave a succinct summary to the BBC: “The Last of Us is essentially about a man called Joel who meets this little, brassy, foul-mouthed kid called Ellie. The two of them form an unlikely bond that ends up being stronger than anything else.” And also fungus zombies are everywhere.
Ramsey is now home in Leicestershire, England after attending The Last of Us premiere in Los Angeles, and it’s sinking in what a global hit the show is. “It’s weirder seeing billboards locally than it was in LA,” she said. “I took my driving test the other day – which I failed – and during that I kept driving past the billboards, which was quite strange.”
Her loved ones are watching the show, as well, although in the case of her family, they’re “forcing themselves” through it. “It’s not the sort of thing they would normally watch,” Ramsey said.
“My grandma sent a message to my mum last night saying, ‘it’s not easy watching but it is rather thrilling’. That’s what they are making of it.”
HBO is dragging its feet renewing The Last of Us for season 2
Much has been made of the fact that The Last of Us is a video game adaptation, which in the past would be an excuse to write it off as an embarrassing failure. But video game adaptations have come a long way since the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie.
“[Video games] are so much richer than I ever imagined, being a naïve, ignorant, non-gamer,” Ramsay said. “It’s really cool that video games can work in a cinematic medium. Maybe it will form a blueprint for video game adaptations going forwards. It’s such a good representation of how video games can be adapted in the right hands.”
Ramsey isn’t much of a gamer herself, but has started playing the original Last of Us game. “It’s really cool; I’m really into it,” she said. “I think being in the show might have converted me.”
The Last of Us showrunner: Fans are right about how the fungus spread. dark. Next
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