This is the series that breaks records at the Emmy Awards! The Last of Us star reveals filming secrets and confides in the second season

Find the first season of The Last of Us on DVD, Blu-ray and Steelbook 4K.

Whether you’re a video game fan or not, you can’t miss The Last of Us. A true series event in recent months, this HBO adaptation was very successful in the US, but also in France, where every week, the public was able to step into the company of Joel and Ellie in this post-apocalyptic world. Success has also met with a critical side, as The Last of Us has no less than 24 nominations for the 2023 Emmy Awards: a record for a video game adaptation!

Worn by Pedro Pascal and Bela Ramsey, the first 9 episodes also allow us to meet Marlene, played by Merle Dandridge. The only actor to reprise his role from the video game series, the actor talked about his character, filming, and gave us some insight on Season 2….

***This interview was conducted before the actors and writers strike in Hollywood***

AlloCiné: You started playing The Last of Us Adventure in 2013, did you foresee the phenomenon it would become?

Merle Dandridge: From the beginning, I knew there was something special. The game was so beautiful, so deep, so full of emotion… there are these well-written characters, these trials to pass and the fact that everything can change. But it wasn’t just about working on the narrative and the game itself. The people and artists who are responsible are so amazing, engaging, interesting, I knew there would be something that the public would feel comfortable with, that they would be attached to.

Pedro Pascal is amazing in this role. He deserves all the respect he gets.

What was your reaction when you found out it was going to be a TV series adaptation?

I was so excited! We all hoped there would be one, but there was a lot of trepidation because video game adaptations weren’t always well received. I was excited because HBO always brings prestigious work that goes beyond what you imagine.

And when I had the great privilege of reading these scripts, I was overcome with joy. I patted my chest as I read the pages. I knew that fans of the game would feel loved and discussed, but also that it would touch the hearts of many more people.

You are one of the only ones who have played your acting role in the series, how do you feel about that? Did the screen character of Marlene come naturally to you?

What a surprise… no! It was a real challenge, but so exciting because I was only playing it in a motion capture suit. Getting into a really physical space, interacting with the set, the weight of the props and the tools… I was able to carry his scars there, so I could feel even more what it meant to him, emotionally and physically.

I really saw it as a new experience I had with Marlene, an opportunity to interpret this character in a new way.

This is an amazing story waiting for the public and this second season will surely amaze you!

How would you describe Marlene? Is there any aspect of it that you particularly like?

He has courage, hope and faith that goes beyond belief. I love that she is brave enough to sacrifice her comfort for the greater good. I admire the courage he has to make some decisions and step in as a leader.

The series asks a lot of questions about choices, the very fine line between good and bad, depending on the views. Would you have made the same choice as Marlene?

Marlene’s circumstances are so different from mine… but what is certain is that I will always be sympathetic to her choices. I don’t know if I would have his will to sacrifice what is near and dear to me for the sake of all good.

For Joel, it’s like he’s willing to create so much and commit so much violence not only to protect a person, but also this idea of ​​a part of himself that he thinks has disappeared: the ability to love.

It’s a great achievement of the show, these questions of choice, right and wrong, are so beautifully written that as we watch the characters commit sometimes heinous acts, we can relate to them. We carry their experience and past with us.

Which other character would you like to play?

I love Marlene, so this is a tough question, but I think I would love to play Joel. What a conflicting and contradictory character! But honestly, Pedro Pascal is so amazing in this role. He deserves every bit of honor he gets, whether it’s an Emmy nomination or something else. Because most of the time, Joel doesn’t say much. He says things with his mind, and Pedro does it perfectly. He is an incredibly heartwarming character.

Are you looking forward to Season 2? Can you tell us a few words about it?

Oh, I can’t wait! The possibilities of everything that could happen in Season 2 are endless because of the non-linear storytelling… and the storylines surrounding Marlene could take a surprising turn in the second installment. There is so much to do, to reveal… there is an amazing story waiting for the community and this second season is sure to blow your mind!

Interview by Mathilde Fontaine on July 12, 2023.