Where was The Last Of Us filmed? Filming locations of HBO'S post-apocalyptic drama, explored

HBO is set for the second installment of its thrilling post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us which was in the news not just for its extremely well-written story but also for earning multiple awards in 2023. The show features Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead roles of Joel and Ellie.

Based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same title, The Last of Us Season 1 is set two decades after a deadly fungal infection turns humans into violent, zombie-like beings. This eerie situation causes society to crumble, and Joel and Ellie are part of the main survivors.

While Joel has been struggling to ensure his survival, Ellie is strangely resistant to the lethal infection. In the first season, they traverse lawless lands and cruel factions. The diverse landscapes and cityscapes in the series spark curiosity in fans regarding the locations.

So, if you've been searching for the same, The Last of Us was shot over about 180 locations in Alberta from July 2021 to June 2022. For the upcoming Season 2, the producers have opted for Vancouver as the shooting location which would match the backdrop of The Last of Us Part II video game.

Continue reading to explore the filming locations in detail.

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Exploring the filming locations of The Last of Us series on HBO

To offer viewers a thrilling and memorable experience, The Last of Us makers left to stone unturned while filming the series. They reportedly spent around $10 million in capturing each episode and used real-world locations, built sets and CGI to bring the post-apocalyptic world to life.

Here are the key filming locations and their roles in the HBO TV series:

1) Calgary – A major filming hub

Soon after reading Calgary, many would recall the place as best known for hosting the popular Calgary Stampede. The city of Alberta, Canada has impressive landscapes and a modern skyline and the production team of The Last of Us utilized several locations including Ramsay Neighborhood to capture the Boston quarantine zone.

Other locations are Downtown Calgary, Hotel Arts, 4th Avenue Flyover to film the post-apocalyptic sequences, Calgary Film Centre, SAIT Senator Burns Building and more. Apart from the HBO series, Calgary has been a filming location for Interstellar (2014) and The Revenant (2015).

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2) Edmonton – The capital city's role

Best recognized for having one of the largest malls in the world, Edmonton was used to recreate the look of Boston in The Last of Us. Other locations in the capital of Alberta that were utilized are the Alberta Legislature Building and Downtown Edmonton & Rice Howard Way to capture a devastated Boston.

Since this city has modern and historic architecture, it has been a filming spot for Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and the hockey classic Miracle (2004).

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3) High River – Texas in Canada

As seen in The Last of Us, Joel and Sarah belong to Austin, Texas and to create this location the production team filmed the scenes in High River. This small town in Alberta has scenic surroundings and old-fashioned streets that give classic small-town feel.

To transform High River into Joel's residence area, locations including 11 Sullivan Road Southwest as the Millers’ house, Evelyn’s Memory Lane Diner, and Beachwood Estates were used. The Albertan town has also been a filming spot for the Canadian TV series Heartland, Superman III (1983), and more.

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4) Fort Macleod – Recreating as Downtown Austin, Texas

Another town utilized in filming the HBO TV series is Ford Macleod, known for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings. Despite being small, this town played a key role in The Last of Us as the production team captured the 2nd Avenue Antique Store as a watch repair shop.

Other projects filmed in this town include Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), Brokeback Mountain (2005), and more.

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5) Canmore – Representing Jackson, Wyoming

Another beautiful filming location of The Last of Us is Canmore, where Tommy lives in the game was also captured. In the HBO TV series, they used Engine Bridge over the Bow River as a location.

Famous for its outdoor activities and the Rocky Mountains, even Pedro Pascal was impressed by the town. While talking about the filming of the series, the award-winning actor said:

"Every inch of Canmore was just this magical little town… with really great fudge."

Not only this, even Bella Ramsey called it her "favorite place" which she explored during the shoot. As for other films and TV series, Canmore has been a filming location for Brokeback Mountain (2005), Inception (2010), and more.

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Other filming locations of HBO's The Last of Us

While the above-mentioned locations played a big role during the filming of the series, it would have been incomplete without the following places in Alberta:

• Waterton Lakes National Park
• Willow Lane Barn
• Sheep River Falls
• AB-742
• Old Shell Station
• 501 400 Suntree Place

Additionally, the filming process became quite enjoyable and smooth due to the Canadian crew. Actress Bella Ramsey acknowledged:

"They were so consistently passionate throughout the whole year... everyone was so pleased to be there and passionate about the work we were collectively creating."

During the same conversation, Pedro Pascal added:

"I feel like being there was essential to the experience — that we couldn’t have done it anywhere else... There wasn’t a fraction of apathy in the entire experience, and honestly, it felt Canadian to me."

And now, fans are excited to watch Pascal and Ramsey reprise their roles as The Last of Us Season 2 is scheduled to come out on April 13, 2025, only on HBO.

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