The Last of Us
The Last of Us is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO. Based on the acclaimed video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog, the series is set decades after the collapse of society due to a mass fungal infection that transforms humans into aggressive, zombie-like creatures. The show has significant Canadian connections, with its first season filmed entirely in Alberta and subsequent seasons produced in British Columbia, making it one of the largest television productions in Canadian history. It follows the journey of survivor Joel Miller and the immune teenager Ellie across a devastated United States, exploring themes of survival, love, and the cost of violence.
Production and Canadian Context
The development of The Last of Us for television began after a planned film adaptation entered development hell. Writer and game creative director Neil Druckmann met Craig Mazin in 2019, and they agreed the story required the length and pacing of a series. HBO announced the project in March 2020, greenlighting it that November. It is the first television series from PlayStation Productions, produced in partnership with Sony Pictures Television, Naughty Dog, the Mighty Mint, and Word Games. The first season's episode count was reduced from ten to nine during production. The series was renewed for a second season in January 2023, just after its premiere, and for a third season in April 2025 ahead of the second season's debut.
The production has had a major economic impact in Canada. The first season was filmed in Alberta from July 2021 to June 2022, generating an estimated CA$182 million for the provincial economy and creating 1,490 jobs. The Canadian artists union IATSE 212 reported a 30% increase in union membership and employment linked to the production. Season two was filmed in British Columbia from February to August 2024, and season three is filming there from March to November 2026. With a first-season budget exceeding CA$100 million, or more than $10 million per episode, it ranks among the most expensive television series ever made, with the budget increasing for subsequent seasons.
The creative team has seen some evolution. For the second season, Halley Gross, who co-wrote The Last of Us Part II video game, joined as a writer and co-executive producer, becoming an executive producer for the third season. In July 2025, Druckmann and Gross stepped away from their creative duties on the series to work on other projects, leaving Mazin as the sole showrunner. Mazin directed the third-season premiere, with other directors including Vincenzo Natali and David Petrarca. While a fourth season was initially considered, indications from Druckmann and HBO's Casey Bloys suggest the third season will conclude the series, ensuring the narrative does not overtake the source material.
Plot Summary by Season
The narrative of The Last of Us unfolds across seasons that correspond to the video game source material. The first season, based on the 2013 game, is set twenty years after a global pandemic caused by a mutated Cordyceps fungus. In 2023, a hardened survivor named Joel is tasked with smuggling a teenage girl named Ellie out of a Boston quarantine zone. Ellie is immune to the infection, and the revolutionary Fireflies believe she is the key to developing a cure. Their cross-country journey is fraught with danger from both infected humans and hostile survivor groups. The season culminates in Salt Lake City, where Joel discovers that extracting a cure would kill Ellie. He slaughters the Fireflies to save her and lies to her about their failure.
The second season, adapting the first half of 2020's The Last of Us Part II, jumps ahead five years. Joel and Ellie have settled in the relatively safe community of Jackson, Wyoming, but their relationship is strained by Joel's lie. Their fragile peace is shattered when Abby, a former Firefly seeking revenge for her father's death, kills Joel. Driven by grief and rage, Ellie and her girlfriend Dina travel to Seattle to track Abby down. Over three brutal days, Ellie confronts members of Abby's group, the Washington Liberation Front, before being convinced to return home by friends Jesse and Tommy. The season ends with Abby killing Jesse and confronting Ellie, leaving their conflict unresolved. The upcoming third season will adapt the second half of Part II, shifting perspective to follow Abby's parallel three days in Seattle. The season is set to explore her journey with her friends Owen, Nora, Mel, and Manny, and how her worldview is challenged after encountering Yara and Lev, siblings who are members of the religious Seraphite group. This narrative structure presents both sides of the cycle of violence, exploring themes of revenge, empathy, and redemption in a detailed manner.
Cast and Characters
The series features an expansive ensemble cast, led by Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Pascal portrays Joel as a physically vulnerable and traumatized survivor, hard of hearing in one ear, a departure from the more physically imposing video game version. Ramsey's Ellie captures the character's defiance, anger, and deep need for connection. Their chemistry was instant, despite not having met before filming began. The main cast expanded in the second season to include Gabriel Luna as Joel's idealistic brother Tommy, Isabela Merced as Ellie's girlfriend Dina, and Young Mazino as the selfless Jesse. Kaitlyn Dever was introduced as Abby in season two, becoming a series regular for the third season.
The production is notable for its high-profile guest stars and for bringing actors from the video games into new roles. Notable recurring and guest cast members include Anna Torv as Joel's partner Tess, Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett as survivalists Bill and Frank, and Melanie Lynskey as revolutionary leader Kathleen. Storm Reid played Ellie's best friend Riley, while Rutina Wesley portrays Tommy's wife, Maria. Jeffrey Wright appears as WLF leader Isaac Dixon, reprising his voice role from the game. Actors from the original games also appear, such as Ashley Johnson as Ellie's mother Anna, Troy Baker as James, and Merle Dandridge as Marlene. For the third season, new series regulars include Spencer Lord as Owen, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Ariela Barer as Mel, Michelle Mao as Yara, and Kyriana Kratter as Lev. The season will also feature guest stars like Clea DuVall, John Goodman, and Laura Bailey, who originally voiced Abby in The Last of Us Part II. The character Manny was recast between seasons, with Danny Ramirez playing him in season two and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. taking over for season three due to scheduling conflicts.
Reception and Viewership
The Last of Us was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its premiere in January 2023. Reviewers praised the series for its faithful yet expansive adaptation, powerful performances from Pascal and Ramsey, its writing, production design, and the haunting score by Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming. Many critics declared it the best adaptation of a video game ever made. The series quickly became a ratings success for HBO. The series premiere was watched by almost 40 million viewers across linear channels and HBO Max within two months. By May 2023, the first season was averaging nearly 32 million viewers per episode, making it HBO's most-watched debut season at the time.
The momentum continued with the second season, which premiered on April 13, 2025. Within two months, the second season averaged almost 37 million viewers per episode, demonstrating the series' growing audience. The show's success has been recognized with numerous awards, most notably nine Primetime Emmy Awards. The critical and commercial reception solidified its status as a flagship series for HBO and a landmark in genre television. The series has won several accolades beyond the Emmys, including awards from guilds and critics associations.
Episodes and Seasons
The Last of Us has aired two seasons, with a third in production. The episode count has varied, focusing on dense storytelling rather than a standard season length. The first season consisted of nine episodes, covering the entire narrative of the first video game. The second season contained seven episodes, adapting the first half of The Last of Us Part II. The upcoming third season is planned to be longer and "significantly larger" in scope as it concludes the adaptation of the second game's story. The series is known for its cinematic direction, with different directors helming episodes across the seasons, including Mazin, Druckmann, Peter Hoar, Kate Herron, and Mark Mylod.
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | January 15, March 12, 2023 | The Last of Us (2013) |
| 3 | TBA | Expected 2027 | Second half of The Last of Us Part II (2020) |
Music and Creative Team
The musical score of The Last of Us is a critical component of its atmosphere, composed by Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming. Santaolalla, who composed the scores for the video games, brings his distinctive sound, primarily using guitar, ronroco, and bandoneon, to the series, creating a melancholic and haunting backdrop. David Fleming, who also worked on the game Part II, collaborates to expand the soundscape for the television medium. The score has been highly praised for deepening the emotional resonance of the story and maintaining a sonic continuity with the source material. The series is showrun by Craig Mazin, known for Chernobyl, and co-created by Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the Naughty Dog games. This partnership ensured the adaptation remained deeply respectful of the original while utilizing the strengths of serialized television to expand on characters and subplots. Key producers have included Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, and Rose Lam, with the production team growing to include Jacqueline Lesko and Cecil O'Connor in later seasons.
Key Guest Stars and Notable Appearances
The series has featured many notable actors in guest and recurring roles. The first season sought high profile guest stars such as Anna Torv, Merle Dandridge, Melanie Lynskey, Nick Offerman, Murray Bartlett, Rutina Wesley, and Storm Reid. The second season introduced other guest stars and the third season will feature more. These performers appear in the series for single episodes or short arcs.
- Nick Offerman as the survivalist Bill in Season 1, Episode 3 (2023).
- Murray Bartlett as Frank, Bill's partner, in Season 1, Episode 3 (2023).
- Melanie Lynskey as revolutionary leader Kathleen Coghlan in Season 1, Episodes 4 and 5 (2023).
- Storm Reid as Ellie's best friend Riley Abel in Season 1, Episode 7 (2023).
- Scott Shepherd as the manipulative preacher David in Season 1, Episode 8 (2023).
- Ashley Johnson as Ellie's mother Anna in Season 1, Episode 9 (2023).
- Troy Baker as David's aide James in Season 1, Episode 8 (2023).
- John Hannah as epidemiologist Dr. Neuman in Season 1, Episode 2 (2023).
Major Production Milestones and Renewals
- March 2020: HBO announces the series is in planning stages, with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann as writers and executive producers.
- November 2020: HBO greenlights the series to production.
- February 2021: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are cast as Joel and Ellie.
- July 2021 to June 2022: First season films in Alberta, Canada.
- January 15, 2023: Series premieres on HBO and HBO Max.
- January 27, 2023: HBO renews the series for a second season.
- April 13, 2025: Second season premieres.
- April 9, 2025: HBO renews the series for a third season ahead of the second season's premiere.
- March to November 2026: Third season films in British Columbia, Canada.
The renewal schedule demonstrates confidence in the project. The second season was renewed less than two weeks after the first season's premiere. The third season was renewed ahead of the second season's premiere. The series has a consistent production pipeline in Canada, with filming in Alberta and British Columbia.
Questions about The Last of Us
Where was The Last of Us filmed in Canada?
The first season of The Last of Us was filmed entirely in Alberta, Canada, from July 2021 to June 2022. Locations included Calgary, Canmore, Edmonton, and Fort Macleod, with the province standing in for various post-apocalyptic American settings. The second season moved production to British Columbia, filming from February to August 2024. The third season is also filming in British Columbia, with production scheduled from March to November 2026.
How many seasons of The Last of Us are planned?
HBO has renewed The Last of Us for three seasons. The first season adapted the entire first game. The second season covered the first half of The Last of Us Part II. The upcoming third season, expected to air in 2027, will adapt the second half of Part II. While a potential fourth season was initially discussed, indications from creator Neil Druckmann and HBO executive Casey Bloys suggest the third season will be the last, ensuring the series does not surpass the narrative of the games.
Who are the main actors in The Last of Us?
The series stars Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. The main cast expanded in the second season to include Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Isabela Merced as Dina, and Young Mazino as Jesse. Kaitlyn Dever plays the role of Abby, introduced in season two and becoming a series regular for season three. The show also features a renowned roster of guest stars, including Nick Offerman, Murray Bartlett, Melanie Lynskey, Storm Reid, and Jeffrey Wright.
Is The Last of Us based on a video game?
Yes, The Last of Us is a direct adaptation of the award-winning video game franchise of the same name developed by Naughty Dog. The first season follows the 2013 game The Last of Us. The second season adapts the first half of the 2020 sequel, The Last of Us Part II. The third season will complete the adaptation of Part II. The series was co-created by Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the games.
How successful was The Last of Us on HBO?
The Last of Us was a major critical and commercial success for HBO. Its premiere was watched by almost 40 million viewers within two months. The first season averaged nearly 32 million viewers per episode, becoming HBO's most-watched debut season at the time. The second season, which premiered in April 2025, averaged almost 37 million viewers per episode within two months. The series has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards and is widely considered the best video game adaptation ever made.
Who composes the music for The Last of Us?
The score for The Last of Us television series is composed by Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming. Santaolalla, who also composed the music for the original video games, brings his distinctive sound to the adaptation. David Fleming collaborates with him on the series score. Their work contributes to the show's atmospheric and emotional depth, which has been widely praised by critics. The music is a key element in the series' critical acclaim, alongside its performances, writing, and production design.
Sources and further reading
- The Last of Us (Wikipedia)
- Alberta Locations Featured in HBO's The Last of Us (travelalberta.com)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.
