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The Last of Usis one of the most anticipated TV shows this year. The series based on the zombie survival game of the same name has been subjected to a lot of hype from all around. Along with the hype, there’s also a steady amount of skepticism in the air as the history of video game adaptations hasn’t been so smooth in the recent past. But on the other hand, this also led to a tiresome making process for the series as the makers didn’t want to disappoint anyone at all.
While the inclusion of Neil Druckmann inThe Last of Usadaptation relieved some fans, the casting of Bella Ramsey as Ellie raised quite a storm on the Internet. Now an interesting interview states that HBO also considered Maisie Williams and Kaitlyn Dever for the role of the female protagonist.
Also Read:5 Apocalyptic Films and TV Shows to Prepare You for‘The Last of Us’
Who was the first choice for Ellie inThe Last of Usadaptation?
One of the key factors of the upcoming HBO show is that it roped in Neil Druckmann, the creator of the original game to also run the series along with theChernobyldirector Craig Mazin. Recently when both of them appeared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, many interesting details about the series were revealed.
If the creators are to be believed then they wanted highly to stay true to the source material, unlike several former adaptations that attracted wide criticism. The casting ofThe Last of Ushas been one of the most challenging tasks. WhilePedro Pascal‘s selection as Joel was not pretty much of a difficult decision, the role of Ellie troubled the creators hard. Reportedly, a dozen names were considered before everyone on the head table agreed to bring in the Lyanna Mormont fame.
This list of considerations also had Ramsey’sGame of Thronesco-starMaisie WilliamsandDopesickfame Kaitlyn Dever among popular choices for the role of Ellie. But eventually, both of these stars were considered during a very early phase and by the time the actual development started, it was too late for the former castings. They were already too old to be cast in the role of a teenage girl.
Also Read:The Last of UsCreator Refused Sam Raimi’s Film Adaptation, Wanted‘No Country For Old Men’Style Instead of Sexier‘World War Z’Tone
Bella Ramsey as Ellie impressedThe Last of Uscreators
Bella Ramsey gained widespread acclaim even after having such a small role inGame of Thrones.The 19-year-old actress made a name for herself with her electrifying performance as Lyanna Mormont. The performance even fascinated the creators of the show who were more than sure of their decision of taking her into the series. Watching her, Neil Druckmann exclaimed:
“It was like Ellie realized in live action. It didn’t feel like watching an actor.”
Initially, Ramsey didn’t want to be a part ofThe Last of Usas she didn’t want to be very famous and be widely known. But eventually, the actress made the role to herself. She agreed that the internet wasn’t too kind of the casting but she felt that the character of Ellie was already in her.
Also Read:“That’s the lamest excuse in the book”: Fans Blast HBO’sThe Last of UsOnly Keeping ‘Essential Violence’, Justifying Excessive Violence Like in the Game Wouldn’t Be Impactful
The story ofThe Last of Usfocuses on Joel escorting the teenage Ellie across a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested United States. Now with only a few days left for its release, it will be seen if the TV adaptation does justice to the game. Moreover, the creators have confirmed that despite some changes to the plot, they will stay true to the source material which hints at a brighter future for the series.
The Last of Uswill be premiered on HBO Max on June 18, 2025.
Source:The Hollywood Reporter
Subham Mandal
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1461
Subham Mandal is currently working as a content writer for FandomWire with an ardent interest in the world of pop culture. He has written more than 1000 articles on different spheres of modern pop culture and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He’s also an experienced student journalist having demonstrated work experience with the Times of India. He aspires to be a column writer in the future.
