The announcement that HBO would be developing a series based on The Last of Us games was news that pleased many fans. Excitement for the project has only increased with the latest casting announcements that Pedro Pascal will play the role of Joel while Ellie will be played by Bella Ramsey.
These two actors have already proven themselves in some exciting projects and the casting has been well-received by most fans. But there have been some casting suggestions floating around for a while that are admittedly pretty exciting. It's hard to decide if the casting is perfect the way it is, or if some other options would have been better.
Perfect: The HBO Connection
Following the final season of Game of Thrones, HBO has been looking for some big projects to fill the void. While the Game of Thrones prequels are certainly one answer, The Last of Us also seems like something they are putting a lot of faith in.
Interestingly, the casting for the show seemed to be inspired by Game of Thrones as both Pascal and Ramsey got their big breaks on that show as Oberyn Martell and Lyanna Mormont, respectively. Having these two HBO veterans lead the series makes sense.
Alternative: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau As Joel
Coincidentally, another Game of Thrones alumnus was a fan-favorite pick to play Joel in the show. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, of course, played Jaime Lannister, one of the most complex characters on the show.
Coster-Waldau would have been an excellent choice for Joel as he has the quality of the brave hero while also being able to pull off the world-weariness necessary for the character. Just looking at his roles in underrated thrillers like Small Crime and Shot Caller proves his range as a leading man.
Perfect: Ramsey's Presence
Ramsey immediately caught the attention of viewers with her scene-stealing performance as the young but tough Lyanna Mormont. Despite the show being filled with tough characters, Lyanna never backed down from anyone.
Seeing a little girl tough-talk some seasoned warriors could come off rather silly, but Ramsey's strong presence really sold the character. She made it totally believable that she would find herself leading in a world like this and not taking grief from anyone.
Alternative: Sophia Lillis As Ellie
Finding actors this young with the ability to pull off a complex character like Ellie is not easy. However, one name that has stuck out to many fans has been Sophia Lillis. She came to the attention of many with her role in It as the young Beverly Marsh.
Lillis stood out among that young cast as a confident and versatile actor. She is also someone who has that tough quality to her performance while also showing a youthful vulnerability.
Perfect: Pascal As The Protector
The casting of Pascal immediately brought up a lot of questions as he is already the star of one of the biggest shows on television, The Mandalorian. While his commitment to that show is not quite clear yet, his character in both shows feels somewhat similar.
In both cases, Pascal plays a hero who serves as the protector of a young child in the midst of a dangerous world. The final episode of season 2 of The Mandalorian showed how effectively Pascal can play that caring protector role with no dialogue.
Alternative: John Cho As Joel
That role as a protector is something that is essential to the character of Joel in The Last of Us. That is why John Cho would have been an excellent choice for the role.
Cho has had a varied career with movies like Star Trek, Harold and Kumar, and Columbus. But his role in the excellent and underrated thriller Searching is a perfect example of how he would crush a role like Joel. As the father of a missing child in that movie, Cho showed the determination, conflict, and resourcefulness that Joel also has.
Perfect: The Survivor
The role of Ellie is really at the heart of The Last of Us story. She is a young girl who finds herself in a dangerous world and in a position of incredible importance. Throughout the story, she continues to prove herself to be a true survivor.
When looking at Ellie in that sense, Ramsey feels like a great choice to play the role. She has shown that strength in the face of danger with her role in Game of Thrones and showed audiences a character with a survivor's courage.
Alternative: Storm Reid As Ellie
Storm Reid is another young actor who is beginning to get a lot of attention and who seems like she would be a good fit for the role of Ellie.
Reid first gained attention for her starring role in Ava Duvernay's A Wrinkle in Time and has since appeared in Euphoria and The Invisible Man. Reid has that tough quality that is so important for Ellie while also having a compassionate spirit in her roles that would fit with some of the developments in the story.
Perfect: The Complex Hero
The character of Joel is a very interesting type of hero. He is someone who has suffered and lost a lot then seems to find a new purpose. However, some of his decisions are more complex than the average hero and make the audience question if he really did the right thing.
Pascal is the kind of actor who can pull off this conflicted type of hero. Even with his roles in The Mandalorian and Game of Thrones, the characters are more layered than just being the good guy.
Alternative: Timothy Olyphant As Joel
Another actor who excels at playing those roguish heroes who might not always make the best decisions is Timothy Olyphant. As seen with his guest appearance on season two of The Mandalorian, Olyphant is known for playing cowboy lawman roles.
However, like his roles in Deadwood and Justified, Olyphant makes his dashing heroes charming while also showing their flaws. They might be interested in law and order, but sometimes their methods are too much. Olyphant could have shown a similar style to Joel which would have been effective.