The Last of Us Season 2 will introduce several new characters, including Isabela Merced’s Dina. In a new interview, Merced opened up about joining the acclaimed HBO drama series and how she relates to her TLOU character.

While speaking with Total Film to promote her upcoming movie, Alien: Romulus, Merced teased her The Last of Us character, Dina, revealing that they share a lot in common. “[Dina is] sort of a light in Ellie’s life, in Ellie’s world. I think that’s the general consensus, because you look at the video game, too, and she is really the only one who actually gets sort of a decent ending,” she said. “I love, more than anything, to be that light for the people in my life. And I like to make them laugh, and I like to make them understand themselves more. I just like to help in general. I think Dina’s very close to my own personality. I think we’re both very silly, and I think I would maybe handle the apocalypse in a similar way if I were in it.”

The Last of Us premiered on HBO in January 2023. Taking place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed, the series follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, as he smuggles Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. The Last of Us was an instant success for HBO, marking the network’s second-largest debut after House of the Dragon. Viewership continued to increase throughout the show’s first season, culminating in a 75 percent increase in the Season 1 finale audience.

The forthcoming second season will adapt the 2020 video game, The Last of Us Part II. Similar to the video game, Season 2 will give Ramsey’s Ellie a larger role, while also introducing several new allies and enemies, such as Merced’s Dina, who will go from being Ellie’s close friend to her girlfriend. Young Mazino, Kaitlyn Dever, and Jeffrey Wright will also be part of the new season as Jesse, the ex-boyfriend of Dina and father of their son, JJ; Isaac Dixon, leader of the Washington Liberation Front; and Abby, a controversial character from the video game who killed Joel by smashing his head with a golf club.

The Last of Us May Receive a Fourth Season

Previously, co-showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann had stated that they would need two seasons to properly adapt The Last of Us Part II. However, in June 2024, Mazin revealed that a fourth season may be required, explaining, “We don’t think that we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons because we’re taking our time and go down interesting pathways which we did a little bit in Season 1 too. We feel like it’s almost assuredly going to be the case that — as long as people keep watching and we can keep making more television — Season 3 will be significantly larger. And indeed, the story may require season 4.”

The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere in 2025 on HBO. The first season can be streamed on Max.

Source: Total Film