HBO has been slowly working to make its series adaptation of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us a reality. After recently bringing Russian director Kantemir Balagov in to direct the show's pilot, the network has already found one of its leads, and if certain rumors are to be believed, another may be on the way.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bella Ramsey has officially been cast as Ellie. Ramsey has worked with HBO previously, playing Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. In addition to this confirmed casting, there is a currently unconfirmed rumor that Mahershala Ali may have been offered the role of Joel in the upcoming series.
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While the rumor has yet to be tied to an official announcement, many are already excited about the possibility of the talented and popular actor taking on what could end up being a highly beloved role. Since the show's producer intends to expand on The Last of Us, there's certainly plenty of material to work with.
The rumor originated at The Illuminerdi, a site dedicated to such claims as well as proper TV and movie news. Though that's not to say it doesn't necessarily have merit. The idea of Ali taking on such a role isn't exactly farfetched, as he's clearly more than capable of pulling it off. The only question is whether or not the story itself can be trusted. The site didn't name any official sources for its scoop, so readers are left to decide for themselves whether or not to believe it.
Ali has spent the last several years making waves in the acting world with his widely praised performances in shows like House of Cards and Luke Cage. Currently, he's made his way to a number of headlines due to his casting as in the lead role in Marvel's upcoming Blade reboot. Announced last year, the reboot has apparently been in the works for some time, and fans were quick to accept Ali as the new face of the vampire hunter.
The Last of Us is set in a world ravaged by a deadly plague, turning its victims into mindless creatures that attack on sight. Joel is a hardened survivor hired to escort a young teenager, Ellie, to a safe haven where her mysterious immunity to the infection can be studied and hopefully turned into a cure. Along the way, the two are forced to work together, bringing them closer and slowly developing a bond as they fight through dangerous environments on their way to potential hope. It sounds cliched, but The Last of Us got its popularity from its character interactions more than anything.
Regardless of the legitimacy, the very idea of seeing Ali in the role of a grizzled mercenary trying to survive through a zombie apocalypse may be more than enough to attract plenty of attention. Whether or not it ends up being confirmed, it's still a rather inspired casting choice. Here's hoping the long wait for HBO's The Last of Us will be worth it.
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Source: The Hollywood Reporter