‘The Last of Us’ Lands ‘Game of Thrones’ Fan Favorite Bella Ramsey for Lead Role
“The Last of Us,” HBO’s upcoming adaptation of the popular PlayStation video game, has landed “Game of Thrones” fan favorite Bella Ramsey in a lead role, according to an individual with knowledge of the project. Ramsey will play Ellie, a 14-year old orphan who has never known anything but a ravaged planet, struggles to balance her instinct for anger and defiance with her need for connection and belonging… as well as the newfound reality that she may be the key to saving the world.
“The Last of Us” will be written by “Chernobyl” writer Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the game’s creator. Russian filmmaker Kantemir Balagov, who broke out at Cannes with 2019’s “Beanpole” will direct the pilot.
Mazin and Druckmann will write and executive produce the project with Carolyn Strauss and Evan Wells, the president of “The Last of Us” developer Naughty Dog. The project is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and in association with PlayStation Productions. This is the first television series from PlayStation Productions.
*Also Read:* 'Last of Us' Series Adaptation in the Works at HBO From 'Chernobyl' Writer Craig Mazin
“The Last of Us” story takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the U.S. and depend on each other for survival. The HBO series will cover the events of the original game, which was written by Druckmann, with the possibility of additional content based on the game’s sequel, “The Last of Us Part II.”
Ramsey made her professional acting debut and broke out as fierce young noblewoman Lyanna Mormont in Season 6 of “Game of Thrones,” a role that quickly became a fan favorite and saw Ramsey return for the next 2 seasons. Ramsey is also known for playing Mildred Hubble in the adaptation of “The Worst Witch” for which she won the Young Performer BAFTA in 2019. Ramsey was most recently in the second season of BBC/HBO’s adaptation of “His Dark Materials.”
Bella Ramsey is represented by Georgie Davies at Conway van Gelder Grant and Bianca Levin at Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news.
*Related stories from TheWrap:*
HBO Received 'No Complaints' About Joss Whedon Before He Exited 'The Nevers,' Casey Bloys Says
Mike Judge Comedies 'A5,' 'Qualityland' Scrapped at HBO
HBO Sets 2-Part Opioid Epidemic Doc 'Crime of the Century' From Director Alex Gibney