We've been waiting a long time and we're finally almost there: after the success of the first season, "The Last Of Us - Part 2" is preparing to debut on our screens next April 14, continuing the adventures of Joel and Ellie among new scenarios and twists where once again the most intense emotions will intertwine with the fight for survival.
Consisting of seven new episodes, the second chapter will be set five years after the events of the previous episodes, giving space to situations and conflicts that will come to question the bond between the two traveling companions.
During the latest press conference, the show's star Pedro Pascal revealed a few more details about how the filming took place and how we will see the characters change over the course of the episodes.
In particular, we know from the season one finale that Joel chose to lie to Ellie about the existence of a cure for the epidemic: this will have huge repercussions on their relationship of trust. Alluding to these important details, the star said in the company of co-star Bella Ramsay: "I think Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann created a beautiful situation: the first thing I was able to shoot was just you and me in an intimate setting."
And going into the specifics of the work done on set, he added: "There's an incredibly painful distance between the two of them and it shows in that scene, but we were still on set and we joked and laughed and stuff like that. And it was incredibly comforting, it was like coming home." Describing his immersion in the role as an exhilarating and somewhat painful experience, he later said: "I was grateful and yet this experience, more than any other I've ever had, is difficult for me because I have to try to separate what the characters are going through and what I'm feeling in a way that's not very healthy. And, in a way, I feel their pain. I guess I'm in an unhealthy place in my head."
Gabriel Luna, already known in the first season as Tommy, Joel's brother, also spoke about his involvement in the series. Among the qualities that most characterize him, as fans of the video game also know, is his ability to use a sniper rifle. To best prepare himself, Luna has undergone specific training, and in a recent interview he hinted that, very probably, we will see him show off his sniper skills: "I mean, you can expect everything you want from this series, and we will give you what you need and what you ask for."
On his skills in using firearms, he said in particular: "I did my weapons training, especially with the sniper rifle, previously with Jack Nevils. He trains snipers in the army, he was our military advisor on Terminator: Dark Fate. So, I trained with him and used him as a resource. He's a great friend and a wealth of knowledge, so I tried to make the most of his experience. We went to the range a lot, to make sure everyone was up to par. Our trainers were very happy that I was already prepared. They put the flamethrower in my hand, we practiced for about four minutes and they were like, 'Yeah, Gabe's good.' And I was like, 'Are you sure, man?' I think maybe we should do a little bit longer."
The hope is to see the famous scene from the video game in which Tommy slaughters enemies with his infallible aim brought back to the show; absolutely one of the most appreciated moments by the fanbase. We will therefore see if this time too HBO has thought of ad hoc content to satisfy the masses of video gamers.
In any case, according to what the team revealed, the original narrative material of “The Last Of Us - Part 2” is so vast that it will require at least two seasons to be adapted in its entirety. Nothing to exclude then that the scene of Tommy could find space, if not in the next one, in a hypothetical third season. After all, we are willing to bet that the world of “The Last Of Us” will still have a lot to give in the near future.
