Why did Pedro Pascal leave The Last of Us? Details revealed 

Pedro Pascal is a much-loved actor for his portrayal of Joel Miller in The Last of Us. The show is in its second season, but unfortunately, Pedro Pascal is leaving the show.

Pascal is a busy actor these days. He is set to appear in the upcoming films Materialists and Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps as Mr. Fantastic. However, that is not why he is leaving the show. Pedro Pascal's departure is also not caused by creative differences with the creators. He is leaving because his character dies early in season 2 of The Last of Us.

Is Pedro Pascal leaving The Last of Us?

Pedro Pascal is leaving The Last of Us because, unfortunately, Joel Miller died this season. At the end of season one, Joel finally reaches the fireflies, who want to use Ellie to make a cure. They are not sure it will work but are determined to try. However, Joel realizes that creating a cure would most likely kill Ellie. He then saves her by killing all the fireflies there, even the doctor who was supposed to make the cure. Joel takes Ellie to Jackson, where they live for the next five years.

In the second episode of season two, " Through the Valley, " Joel is killed by Abby, the daughter of the doctor Joel killed in season one. Abby has been seeking revenge all this time. Ellie witnesses this brutal heartbreak and begins her journey to seek revenge on Abby for what she did to Joel. This sudden death is based directly on the events of the video game " The Last of Us Part II, " where the same storyline plays out.

Pascal knew from the beginning that his character would be killed off. Even though he was prepared, filming Joel’s death was very emotional for him. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pascal said,

"I was always sidestepping how I really felt, that in a big way my experience was coming to an end on the show,"

Pedro continues,

"I guess that was the strangest thing to step through because I felt so bonded to everyone in the show after going through the gauntlet of season 1 together, not just with Bella, but with the entire cast and crew. So to have this goodbye was very sad for me, and I had such a physical manifestation, a violent mirror of how sad it was for Joel to die. To be honest, it was quite dreamlike."

Although Joel is no longer alive in the main timeline, he will appear in flashback scenes, as teased in the trailer. The Last of Us creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, told Entertainment Weekly that those flashback scenes

"are coming."

Viewers haven’t seen the last of Pascal just yet. His character’s past will likely continue to shape the story moving forward.

What to expect from The Last of Us after Pascal’s departure?

With Joel gone, the show will focus completely on Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey). Ellie will face intense challenges, including grief, anger, and a desire to avenge Joel's death, which will drive the storyline in the coming episodes.

Another major change in The Last of Us is the introduction of Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. Her actions have already made a major impact, and her storyline will now take center stage. The show will explore her background and her complicated relationship with Ellie, promising new layers to the show.

Fans of The Last of Us video game already know where the story is headed, but if you have not played the game, you should expect the tone of the show to shift. The second season will take a darker and more emotional turn, exploring the themes of loss and revenge.

New episodes of The Last of Us come out every Sunday at 9 pm ET on HBO and Max.

Trending

For more articles on The Last of Us, follow Soapcentral!

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback