Pedro Pascal reveals The Last of Us started a ‘new chapter’ in his life, here’s how

The Last of Us is soon returning to the screens with its second season after a long wait of two years. The HBO post-apocalyptic drama based on the video game series of the same name, follows Joel, a smuggler tasked to protect a young girl, Ellie, who is immune to the virus while the rest of the world crumbles.

Pedro Pascal has earned rave reviews for his performance as Joel in the series and is reprising his role in season 2. Though Pedro was already an established name in the industry before he appeared in The Last of Us, the actor has revealed that the show started a new chapter in his life.

Pascal talked about how the experience of working in the series impacted him personally in a press conference in Los Angeles. He also highlighted how the positive reception further benefited him:

“This job definitely created a new chapter in my life in a profound way because of the personal experience I had making the show, and then, of course, the way the show was received.”

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Pedro Pascal talks about how The Last of Us started a new chapter in his life

Pedro Pascal described the experience of working on The Last of Us Season 2 as cathartic. Opening up about how the show affects him personally, the actor said he starts to feel the pain of the characters in real life:

“My mindset was grateful to be back and yet, at the same time, this experience, more than any other I’ve had, is hard for me to separate what the characters are going through and how it makes me feel, in a way that isn’t very healthy. And so I kind of feel their pain.”

Talking about the show's focus on human relationships and their changing dynamics under crisis, Pedro said:

“There’s a very healthy and sometimes sick pleasure in that kind of catharsis and a safe space to see human relationships under crisis and in pain and intelligently draw a political allegory, societal allegory, and base it off of the world that we’re living in.”

The Last of Us Season 2 begins five years after the events of the first season’s finale. The world becomes more dangerous than ever in the new season, forcing Joel and Ellie into a conflict that further raises tensions.

Apart from Pedro Parscol, the show stars Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby Anderson, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Danny Ramirez as Manny, Catherine O'Hara as Gail, Isabela Merced as Dina, Rutina Wesley as Maria, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy.

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The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on HBO on April 13, 2025.