The cast and creators of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” appeared at a featured panel Saturday afternoon during SXSW 2025, drawing a crowd of about 1,700 attendees to discuss the much anticipated upcoming second season.
As Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal walked onstage, the audience unanimously rose in a standing ovation, setting an enthusiastic tone for the discussion on the critically-acclaimed show. With Season 2 set to premiere in just five weeks, the panel offered a first look at what to expect in the continuation of the post-apocalyptic drama.
The panel featured co-showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann alongside returning cast members Pascal (Joel), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), and Austin native Gabriel Luna (Tommy). The plus newcomers Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, and Young Mazino.
For Austin’s Latino community, the presence of Pascal, Merced and Luna was particularly meaningful.
Merced, a Peruvian-American actress, brings additional representation as one of the key new cast members this season.
Luna, a Texas native of Mexican descent who plays Joel’s brother Tommy, acknowledged his hometown during the discussion.
“Well, before I answer your question I’d like to address my hometown,” Luna said, to enthusiastic applause. “That’s fantastic, Texas.”
Latinos in the Spotlight
While “The Last of Us” continues to earn praise for its storytelling and production value, the show’s Latino representation remains significant for viewers.
Pascal, who has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable Latino actors, received the most enthusiastic response from the crowd. His portrayal of Joel has resonated with Latino audiences who rarely see themselves represented in leading roles, and especially in post-apocalyptic narratives.
When working with actress Catherine O’Hara who plays Joel’s therapist in Season 2, Pascal joked, “I’m such a little fan girl, but the thing about Catherine O’Hara is I’ve seen her in absolutely everything and so I don’t know, it was like working with Obama.”
This season also features Luna and Merced, creating a strong ensemble of Latino talent in a prestige drama. Merced has previously starred in films like “Transformers: The Last Knight” and “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.”
Luna’s character, Tommy, was expanded for Season 2, and his character has a son named Benjamin. Luna said this change impacts his character.
“I think it’s when your constitution, I believe when you have a child, just becomes that much more solidified and it crystallizes what you’re about and what you care about,” Luna said. “Uncle Tommy is Papa Tommy now.”
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Music’s Role on the Show
A recurring theme throughout the panel was the cast’s musical connections. Several cast members play guitar, with Luna citing an impromptu jam session on set.
“We had a jam session one day on Sunday and you did a great version of Linger,” he said about Ramsey.
Music also plays a significant role in the show itself, said Ramsey.
“Music feels so integral to “The Last of Us” to me and the soundtrack and the score,” Ramsey said. “It feels so specific to “The Last of Us.”
New Threats and Expanding the World
The second season will introduce new factions and threats, including groups called the “Wolves” and “Seraphites.” Mazin explained that the world of the show is expanding beyond the tight focus on Joel and Ellie from Season 1.
“This story is broader. It has many more characters, many more lenses to look through,” writer Mazin said. “There’s a whole new environment that we introduced and that world is louder and it is more diverse.”
As the panel concluded, the cast shared stories about their experiences filming the new season. Pascal and Ramsey, who have a well-known off-screen friendship, joked about who makes the other break character first on set.
As the premiere for Season 2 approaches, excitement continues to build for what promises to be an ambitious and emotionally complex season. For Latino viewers especially, seeing actors like Pascal and Luna in leading roles in one of television’s most prestigious series represents a significant step forward in representation.
Co-stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal at SXSW panel. Photo by Mari G. Hernandez/Special to Austin Vida
Season 2 Teasers
The panel featured an exclusive trailer for the upcoming season– revealing that the new season will take place five years after the events of Season 1. The footage hints at a strained relationship between Joel and Ellie.
“Obviously, the relationship has changed a little and we start to see why,” Ramsey said. “I think Ellie has had that in the back of her head this whole time.”
For fans of the video game, there are exciting developments with the infected spores– a key element from the game — will be making an appearance in Season 2.
Pascal described the new season as “heartbreaking,” while Druckman characterized it as “crazier” than the first, promising “a wild roller coaster ride.”
Season 2 of “The Last of Us” premiers on HBO in April 2025.
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