Pedro Pascal Opens Up About His Emotional Struggle Playing Joel in The Last of Us Season 2

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Summary

  • Pedro Pascal struggled to separate his own feelings from Joel’s in The Last of Us Season 2.
  • Season 2 introduces a new cast and picks up five years after the first season.
  • The premiere date for The Last of Us Season 2 on HBO is April 13, 2025, generating immense excitement.

As fans eagerly wait just under two weeks for the premiere of HBO’s second season of The Last of Us, Pedro Pascal shares his challenges in portraying Joel and grappling with the heavy themes of the returning series. Now a household name, Pascal has captivated audiences on hit shows like Game of Thrones, Narcos, The Mandalorian, and not forgetting The Last of Us. In this post-apocalyptic drama, he breathes life into the gruff Joel Miller, a once emotionally detached survivor who is reluctantly tasked with escorting Bella Ramsey’s Ellie across the United States, eventually discovering that he cares for her far more than expected.

In the second season of “The Last of Us,” a fresh set of actors will join the cast, with Kaitlyn Dever portraying Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, Jeffrey Wright and Catherine O’Hara stepping into the roles of Isaac and Gail. The storyline for season 2 will pick up five years after the nail-biting finale of season 1, offering glimpses into life in Jackson with Tommy and Maria, as well as exploring the growing tension between Joel and Ellie. Though the TV adaptation of the sequel game will span across multiple seasons, it won’t recount every event from Naughty Dog’s second installment in the series.

The Last of Us’ Pedro Pascal Opens up About His Struggle to ‘Separate What the Characters Are Going Through’

At a press conference with Variety, Pedro Pascal shared that playing the character of Joel in The Last of Us Season 2 sometimes put him in an emotionally taxing state, as he occasionally struggled to separate his own emotions from those of the character and even absorbed feelings from other characters within the show.

Although I was glad to be back, this experience has been particularly challenging for me because I can’t easily distinguish the emotions of the characters from my own feelings. This blurred line isn’t healthy, and it seems like I’m feeling their pain along with them. In essence, I find myself in an unhealthy mental state.

In a different phrasing, during discussions about Time travel in The Last of Us Season 2, Pascal mentioned that he experienced an intensely painful sense of distance compared to Season 1 when paired with Bella Ramsey’s character Ellie. However, despite the somber undertones, he found joy and camaraderie with Ramsey, creating moments where they could alleviate the tension. Pascal described this as a comforting experience, akin to returning home.

The title of the first episode of The Last of Us Season 2 has been unveiled, sparking speculation among fans that Joel’s departure from the series might occur earlier than anticipated. Furthermore, there’s a buzz that a prominent actor remains unnamed for an as-yet-unknown character in Season 2, leading to a fever pitch of anticipation for the show’s comeback. The second season of The Last of Us is set to air on HBO on April 13, 2025.

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2025-03-26 12:46