The Last of Us stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal seem to be as close as Ellie and Joel. In fact, Ramsey revealed the sweet observation Pascal made after shooting for the HBO series finished.
The Last of Us is based on the 2013 Naughty Dog-developed video game of the same name. The game features an infection of mutant Cordyceps mushrooms spreading across the world. The Infected quickly overtake the healthy population and throw human civilization into disarray. The plot of The Last of Us centers around Joel (played by Pascal in the series), a smuggler who must help a young teenage girl named Ellie (portrayed by Ramsey in the series) cross the ravaged, post-apocalyptic United States. The two grow close over the course of the game and form a surrogate father-daughter relationship with one another. It's one of Naughty Dog's most cinematic games, and a movie had previously been planned and cancelled before the series came to be.
In an interview with USA Today, Ramsey revealed what it was like working with Pascal. "I'm so excited for it to come out – it was such a big part of my life. I shot for a whole year, which is quite a long time when you've only lived for 19 years," Ramsey said. "Pedro wrote a little card to me at the end, saying, 'How interesting that something so huge and life-changing should happen so early in your life and so late in mine.' I thought it was a really sweet observation and I just had the best time."
It's a heartwarming and personal moment for Ramsey to reveal. Pascal, who is known for his roles in Game of Thrones (where Ramsey had her breakout role, though the two never interacted on screen) and The Mandalorian, clearly treasured his time shooting The Last of Us with the young actress. The two seemed to find common ground and camaraderie with one another while portraying Ellie and Joel in The Last of Us.
Though the Last of Us series is still weeks away from premiering, this anecdote by Ramsey is perhaps the most revealing look at the show yet. Not only does it reveal that Pascal and Ramsey's relationship is close, it shows that the two will have a strong sense of chemistry together. Pascal clearly came to care for Ramsey deeply during shooting, and the relationship between Ellie and Joel is one of the essential elements of the Last of Us video game and has to be centered properly in any adaptation.
The Last of Us is looking like a strong adaptation. What has been shown of the series thus far promises to be a faithful adaptation of the game and more. Pascal and Ramsey are talented actors in their own right - seeing them act opposite one another on the screen will surely be a delight for fans.
The Last of Us is set to premiere on HBO on January 15, 2023.
Source: USA Today
