HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere this April and is expanding its cast with six new actors, bringing fresh talent to the screen. According to Variety, the new additions include Joe Pantoliano, known for Memento and The Matrix, Alanna Ubach from Euphoria and Bombshell, Ben Ahlers of The Gilded Age and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Hettienne Park from Don’t Look Up, Robert John Burke, who starred in RoboCop 3, and Noah Lamanna from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

These actors will portray a mix of characters from the original The Last of Us Part II game and some entirely new faces. Joe Pantoliano will play Eugene, a character who was previously just a minor figure in the game but will receive more screen time in the series. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann shared with Variety that Eugene’s story will be fleshed out, much like how Bill's character was expanded in Season 1. Druckmann expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to deepen the understanding of Eugene, saying, “I get excited when I see these opportunities. I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Eugene that well!’ The story we told [in the game] was somewhat superficial. The way this character comes in really gets to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship.”

Robert John Burke will take on the role of Seth, the bar owner from The Last of Us Part II, while Noah Lamanna will portray Kat, a character who dated Ellie before the events of the game. Meanwhile, Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park will play new characters named Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.

These new cast members join an already impressive lineup that includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. Given that the showrunners have hinted that the events of Part II will span multiple seasons, fans can anticipate further surprises as the episodes unfold.

The Last of Us Season 2 will premiere on April 13, continuing the adaptation of The Last of Us Part II into the live-action format. For more insights into the upcoming season, you can explore why it sounds like the show is set to unfold over four seasons, and learn more from Neil Druckmann about how Season 2 will include some “pretty brutal” cut content from the original sequel video game.