The Last of Us cast: who stars with Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in the HBO TV show based on PlayStation game

HBO’s Last of Us – the TV adaptation of one of the most critically acclaimed PlayStation games of all time - has announced a raft of big names that will be joining its cast.

The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal has been announced for the lead role, while details of his 17-year old co-star have also been revealed.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is The Last of Us?

The Last Of Us is set in a post-apocalyptic world where society has been destroyed by a mutant fungus that transforms human hosts into aggressive creatures known as the Infected.

The game debuted on the PlayStation 3 in 2013, winning numerous game of the year awards and spawning a 2020 sequel that was similarly well received.

The first game tells the story of Joel, a smuggler who is tasked with escorting Ellie – a 14-year old orphan who may hold the key to ending the pandemic – out of an oppressive quarantine zone.

However, what starts as a small task soon turns into an epic journey across the US with the fate of humanity at stake.

The games are considered some of the most significant of all time, with the first regularly appearing on lists charting the greatest video games of all times, praised for its character development, story, visual and sound design, and depiction of female and LGBT characters.

It appears the show will stick fairly closely to the narrative of that first game, with Deadline saying “Joel, tormented by past trauma and failure, must trek across a pandemic-ravaged America, all the while protecting a girl who represents the last hope of humanity.”

Who stars in it?

Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal will play Joel in the TV version of the hugely popular video game, while his Game Of Thrones co-star, 17-year-old Briton Bella Ramsey, will also appear in The Last Of Us as Ellie.

Ramsey rocketed to international fame after playing fiery noblewoman Lyanna Mormont on the sprawling fantasy programme, while Pascal played Oberyn Martell; he currently stars in the lead role in The Mandalorian, the Disney+ Star Wars series which recently received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama Series.

Deadline report that the new show shouldn’t clash with Pascal’s filming of Season 3 of The Mandalorian where, due to the nature of his character (he wears a helmet and full body armour throughout), the actor isn’t actually needed on set all that often.

Neil Druckmann, director of The Last Of Us video game and co-executive producer of the TV series, said: “Stoked to have Pedro aboard our show!”

HBO’s TV adaptation will feature Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin as co-executive producer alongside Druckmann.

The series' pilot episode will be directed by Russian film director Kantemir Balagov, whose film Beanpole won the Un Certain Regard Best Director at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

When can I watch it?

The series was first announced as being in development in March 2020, and has only taken on more eerie pertinence as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded.

There is currently no word on when the series will be released.