After initially joining the series in a mystery role, word arrives that Nick Offerman is playing Bill in HBO's The Last of Us TV adaptation. The cable series marks the first proper adaptation of Naughty Dog's celebrated video game to get off the ground, with writer/co-director Neil Druckmann previously having penned a film script with Sam Raimi attached to produce, though the project would fall apart. HBO partnered up with Druckmann to bring The Last of Us to screen in early 2020, with Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin attached to co-develop and co-write the series.
The Last of Us, first published by Sony Interactive in 2013, centers on smuggler Joel in a post-apocalyptic United States as he is tasked with traveling across the country with Ellie, a teenager immune to the virus that killed the world, in order to develop a vaccine. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are set to lead the cast of the series as Joel and Ellie alongside Gabriel Luna as Joel's brother Tommy, Merle Dandridge, Jeffrey Pierce, Anna Torv and Nico Parker. The Last of Us entered production in Canada this past July and with another six months scheduled for the shoot, the series is seeing a shift in its cast roster.
Days after it was revealed the Parks and Recreation alum had joined the cast, Variety reports that Nick Offerman is confirmed to be playing Bill in The Last of Us TV series. Offerman takes over the character from Con O'Neill, who was set in the guest starring role before being forced to drop out due to a scheduling conflict. Offerman will star as Bill alongside previously cast Murray Bartlett as survivalist partner Frank. See O'Neill and Mazin's response to the recasting below:
Though audiences who fell in love with Chernobyl may be disappointed to learn of O'Neill and Mazin not getting to reunite for the series, the confirmation of Offerman's role as Bill in The Last of Us is sure to come as exciting news for fans of the actor and the games. It is a nice reassurance to see both talents not just moving on with production but instead addressing the shift in a positive light by welcoming Offerman to the cast. No proper looks of the Parks and Recreation star as the survivalist have been revealed, but the star certainly has the physical resemblance to the character, save for Bill's longer hair.
What is interesting to note about Bill's inclusion in The Last of Us TV series is that he will be seen alongside his partner Frank. In the original video game, Bill was discovered to be living alone with his partner Frank having committed suicide sometime before the events of the game, leading to both of their inclusions pointing towards a diversion from the source material or a semi-prequel setting for the games akin to The Witcher. Only time will tell when The Last of Us premieres on HBO sometime in 2022.
Sources: Variety/Con O'Neill/Twitter