One of the successful series in 2023, The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO. The show stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead. The show is based on the video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog; which is set twenty years into a pandemic caused by a fungal infection that turns the hosts into zombie-like creatures.
The show went on to receive critical acclaim from the audience as well as the critics for its brilliant writing; score, set design, and performances. The Last of Us was named one of the best adaptations of a video game. The second season is scheduled to premiere in 2025 with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey returning as Joel and Ellie. Storm Reid’s work on the show was not only appreciated by the audience but has been recognized by the critics but she wasn’t sure what was she getting herself into. Let’s learn more.
Storm Reid who is known for her work in HBO’s Euphoria as Zendaya’s little sister starred as Riley Abel on The Last of Us. Riley was Ellie played by Bella Ramsey’s best friend at military school but runs away to join Fireflies. The actress’s performance as Riley was highly lauded by the audience and the critics.
Reid’s brilliant work on the show has won her first Emmy Award under Best Guest Actress in the Drama Series category. While speaking to the media at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Storm Reid said via Deadline,
“I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I signed on to be Riley in The Last of Us. I knew it was going to be special, but I didn’t know it was going to be quite this special.”
The actress continued,
Storm Reid starred as Riley Abel on The Last of Us
“I’m just so grateful to the show for allowing me to really, re-fall in love with storytelling. It’s not that I fell out of love with storytelling but I think my role in The Last of Us really reinforced my love and passion to be able to tell meaningful stories and to be a representation for young women, young Black women, young, queer Black women.”
The young actress went on to thank co-star Bella Ramsey, Craig Mazin, and the entire team of The Last of Us for making the show. She added that it was absolutely special to watch it and she is one of the biggest fans of the show. It was reported earlier that the actress did not have much idea about the video game before she starred on the show. Reid didn’t know her character being one of the significant characters on the show until the show premiered.
Nick Offerman hints Bill and Frank’s return to The Last of Us Season 2
Actor Nick Offerman who portrayed a fan favorite character Bill on the show also won his Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. The actor’s character played the romantic opposite to Frank played by actor Murray Bartlett. The audience loved their chemistry on-screen and shed a lot of tears when their characters died on the show.
Upon asking if there are any plans for the characters to return in a flashback; Nick Offerman shared via Deadline at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards;
“Oh, great question but I would have to ask somebody with a higher pay grade than myself. It certainly has been pitched. I think we pitched a whole mini-series of a prequel of their lives before they met each other. It could be a musical. We’re not short on ideas. We’ll just we’ll see what Craig Mazin and Neil Drickmann come up with.”
The actor however mentioned that he would love to reprise the role if asked and joked that he got lucky as the makers needed someone who could use a shovel. He explained, that three of them; Harrison Ford passed on to the role and Jane Lynch was not available, so he got lucky. The Last of Us won a total number of eight Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday.
