Newly released images from HBO's The Last of Us season 1 finale offer the best look at Ellie's original voice actor in the series. Actor Ashley Johnson originally voiced Ellie in the award-winning PlayStation 3 video game of the same name and its popular PlayStation 4 sequel, The Last of Us Part II. While Bella Ramsey was eventually cast as Ellie in the HBO series, Johnson joined the show to play Ellie's mother in the season 1 finale.
HBO recently released new images from The Last of Us season 1 finale, which gives a better look at Johnson's return to the franchise.
The image shows Johnson as Anna, Ellie's mother, on the verge of giving birth as she navigates through the woods alone. The rest of the set features Ellie and Joel on the last leg of their journey to the Fireflies.
What Will Ashley Johnson's Role Be in The Last of Us Finale
When the original The Last of Us video game was released in 2013, Johnson was immediately met with praise for her performance as Ellie. She ultimately earned two BAFTA wins for the role. However, Johnson was too old to convincingly portray Ellie in the HBO adaptation and was instead cast as Ellie's mother Anna, a fitting part for the actor who metaphorically birthed the beloved character.
Early trailers for The Last of Us teased a flashback that shows Anna giving birth under significant duress. Backed against the wall with nowhere to go, Anna scrambles from attacking infected in the season finale preview trailer. It was speculated that this scene reveals the origins behind Ellie's rare immunity to the Cordyceps fungal infection plaguing the world.
During the upcoming flashback in The Last of Us season 1 finale, Anna may end up killing the creature during her tense encounter with the infected individual. Unfortunately, this may not happen until after she is bitten. This traumatic incident could lead to significant stress that causes Anna to go into labor and deliver Ellie with a mutated form of infection. How Anna manages to get Ellie to safety remains to be seen, but it will seemingly play a part in Joel and Ellie's final piece of their journey in HBO's The Last of Us season 1 finale.
Source: HBO