Is there cannibalism in The Last of Us​?

Last Modified Mar 19, 2025 06:17 EDT
Do they cannibalize in The Last of Us​?
The Last of Us series visual (Source: Prime)


Yes, a group of survivors who first appear to be a religious group of people, are eventually discovered to be a bunch of cannibals in the series. They are the main antagonists in the series’ first season.


These survivors are a group of devoted members of a makeshift church led by a preacher named David. Due to the scarcity of food in the post-infected world, they have turned to capturing and killing any travelers they come across and eating them or even their own dead as a means of surviving. Since David, James, and a few others have not informed everyone, not all of the group members are aware that they are eating human flesh, even if it appears that everyone does.


Origin of cannibals in The Last of Us


Do they cannibalize in The Last of Us​?
The Last of Us series visual (Source: Screengrab from the show)


When the Pittsburgh quarantine zone crumbled in 2017 due to a dispute between FEDRA and the Fireflies, David and a few other survivors left. Along the journey, he met other survivors and organized the group. David founded the organization on the theory that the apocalypse prophesied in the Book of Revelations and predicted in Christianity was triggered by the Cordyceps brain illness.


David described his followers as "sheep" who followed him as their preacher and the members were religious Christians who turned to him for leadership. As a result, he stated that everyone should follow "God's way" and used religion as a response to the end of the world. James, Alec, Hannah, Joyce, Josiah, Marco, and Timothy were among the individuals who joined the organization.


The group found it hard to set up a permanent base because raiders were always attacking them. But before the winter of 2023, they were able to establish themselves at the Silver Lake vacation resort in the Colorado mountains. David would frequently give sermons to the group, sharing his views on God and the Bible, and they would all gather to eat and pray together at Todd's Steakhouse restaurant.


He also instructed them to create a banner that read, paraphrasing a passage from the Philippians, "When we are in need, he shall provide." This meant that, as their leader appointed by God, David would see to it that all of their needs were satisfied, provided they continued to be faithful to him.


David decided that the gang would have to turn to cannibalism to survive by the winter of that year due to the deep snow and scarcity of animals to hunt. As one of David's closest supporters, James was aware of this and knew that David had killed and butchered people for his own consumption.


Who are the cannibals in The Last of Us?


The following people are cannibals in the series:


  • David (leader; deceased)

  • James (second-in-command; deceased)

  • Alec (deceased)

  • Hannah

  • Howard

  • Josiah (deceased)

  • Joyce

  • Marco (deceased)

  • Martin

  • Timothy (deceased)



Also Read :

Who is henry in the last of us
Clickers in the last of us
Cordyceps in the last of us

FAQs

A. Yes, a bunch of people who first appeared to be a part of a religious group following “God’s way,” were found to be killing and consuming humans in the series.

A. Yes, Alec was slaughtered and later served as food for the group.

A. Yes, the preacher named David, is a cannibal in The Last of Us.

Related Stories

10 Shows that only got one season to show their greatness 10 Shows that only got one season to show their greatness
10 Shows that only got one season to show their greatness 
2d
Jenna Ortega gives an early update on Wednesday Season 3 Jenna Ortega gives an early update on Wednesday Season 3
Jenna Ortega gives an early update on Wednesday Season 3
1d
Conan O’Brien set to host the 98th Oscars ceremony in March 2026 Conan O’Brien set to host the 98th Oscars ceremony in March 2026
Conan O’Brien set to host the 98th Oscars ceremony in March 2026
1d
Suits LA: How realistic is Harvey Specter? Details explored as Gabriel Macht returns for 3 episode arc Suits LA: How realistic is Harvey Specter? Details explored as Gabriel Macht returns for 3 episode arc
Suits LA: How realistic is Harvey Specter? Details explored as Gabriel Macht returns for 3 episode arc
1d
Daredevil: Born Again disproves an Avengers Tower fan theory and it only justifies the street level MCU further Daredevil: Born Again disproves an Avengers Tower fan theory and it only justifies the street level MCU further
Daredevil: Born Again disproves an Avengers Tower fan theory and it only justifies the street level MCU further
17h
"Isn't very manly" Married at First Sight Australia's Jacqui makes shocking statement about Ryan's appearance "Isn't very manly" Married at First Sight Australia's Jacqui makes shocking statement about Ryan's appearance
"Isn't very manly" Married at First Sight Australia's Jacqui makes shocking statement about Ryan's appearance
1d
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 finishes filming with a new look Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 finishes filming with a new look
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 finishes filming with a new look
17h
I Walked Out of Hip Surgery Two Hours and 48 Minutes Later—Pain-Free": Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary Shares Details About His Surgery Experience" I Walked Out of Hip Surgery Two Hours and 48 Minutes Later—Pain-Free": Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary Shares Details About His Surgery Experience"
I Walked Out of Hip Surgery Two Hours and 48 Minutes Later—Pain-Free": Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary Shares Details About His Surgery Experience"
1d
Dateline: Unspeakable - Who was Jaime Melgar, and what happened to him? Disturbing details of the 2012 incident, revealed Dateline: Unspeakable - Who was Jaime Melgar, and what happened to him? Disturbing details of the 2012 incident, revealed
Dateline: Unspeakable - Who was Jaime Melgar, and what happened to him? Disturbing details of the 2012 incident, revealed
22h
"She brought a humanity": Chuck Lorre from The Big Bang Theory breaks silence on Kaley Cuoco’s Penny and her contribution to the show's success "She brought a humanity": Chuck Lorre from The Big Bang Theory breaks silence on Kaley Cuoco’s Penny and her contribution to the show's success
"She brought a humanity": Chuck Lorre from The Big Bang Theory breaks silence on Kaley Cuoco’s Penny and her contribution to the show's success 
23h