‘Beef’ Breakout Young Mazino Cast as Jesse in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2

Tony Maglio

10 January 2024 at 0:00 pm·2-min read

Young Mazino, a breakout star of Netflix’s “Beef,” has been cast in HBO’s “The Last of Us” Season 2. He’ll play Jesse, a character described as a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own — sometimes at terrible cost. Jesse is expected to be a main role in the second season.

News of Mazino’s casting comes a day after Kaitlyn Dever was cast as fan-favorite character Abby. Her character is a co-lead (along with Ellie, who is played by Bella Ramsey in the TV series) of Naughty Dog video game “The Last of Us Part II.”

More from IndieWire

Ramsey and co-lead Pedro Pascal are returning for the hit show’s second season. Gabriel Luna, who plays Tommy, has teased a return and whose character plays a bigger role in the game.

Production on “The Last of Us” Season 2 is set to begin in February, with filming on the critically revered and Daytime Emmy-winning show previously postponed due to the since-ended strikes.

Mazino is nominated for an Emmy for “Beef” — we’ll find out if he wins on Monday. He’ll next be seen in “American Dream: The 21 Savage Story” alongside Donald Glover.

“Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him,” the TV series’ co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said in a statement. “We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show.”

“The Last of Us” Season 1 took place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed due to an outbreak of mutant fungus — basically zombies. Joel (Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Ramsey), 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 the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.

Season 1 of the video-game adaptation also starred Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, Elaine Miles as Florence, Ashley Johnson (the voice of Ellie in the game) as Anna, and Troy Baker (the voice of Joel in the game) as James.

The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Rose Lam. Production companies are PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.

Young is repped by UTA, M88, Jackoway Austen Tyerman, and Narrative.

Best of IndieWire

BuzzFeed
Experts Say You Actually Don't Need To Wash This Part Of Your Body In The Shower, And We Need To Know If You Agree Or Not
Here's what a doctor had to say when asked the internet's most controversial showering questions.
OK! Magazine
Ruth Langsford 'sends love' in touching message after heartbreaking loss
Ruth Langsford sent supportive words to her former Strictly Come Dancing co-star Gemma Atkinson after learning of her heartbreaking news
OK! Magazine
Jay Slater searcher makes unpleasant admission on This Morning after flying to find missing teen
TikTok star Paul Arnott is involved in the hunt for missing Jay Slater in Tenerife – but when interviewed by This Morning, he revealed his thoughts on Jay's chances of survival
Manchester Evening News
GP says four signs in feet mean 'see a doctor'
Early clues of a potential issue can often be found in our feet
Manchester Evening News
Urgent recall on blood pressure medication over cardiac arrest fears
Over 100 batches of faulty medication are being recalled as it could result in hyperkalemia, irregular heartbeats and even cardiac arrest
Manchester Evening News
Lad has extreme hair makeover as fresh trim leaves women gushing over new look
A man was left unrecognisable after he was given a drastic haircut, with people saying it made him look like a completely different person and that he would definitely get more Tinder matches
OK! Magazine
King Charles 'in discussions' to visit Prince Harry for first time in years - as 'reason' behind trip revealed
King Charles is said to be in discussions to visit his estranged son Prince Harry in America for the first time in years - but his wife and Prince William are reportedly not happy
Manchester Evening News
ITV This Morning's Cat Deeley forced to come off air as guest says 'I hope she is alright'
The presenter had to leave the ITV set midway through an interview
Manchester Evening News
David Beckham and Katherine Jenkins' Royal Box encounter at Wimbledon after OBE controversy
David Beckham and Katherine Jenkins were both in attendance in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Monday - nearly four years after their huge row over her OBE award
OK! Magazine
'Reason' wedge between Kate Middleton and Prince Harry has become 'even larger'
Princess Kate and Prince Harry were once incredibly close, with Harry even describing his sister-in-law as "the sister I never had, but always wanted"
The Telegraph
Boris Johnson’s father defends actions that caused BA flight to be cancelled
Boris Johnson’s father has insisted “I’m glad I stood my ground” after admitting to causing a British Airways flight to be cancelled.
The Telegraph
Chart showing hilarity of Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick arrogance
By now the routine is familiar around the world, from Turin to Riyadh, Lisbon to Manchester. Team of Cristiano Ronaldo wins promising free-kick, Ronaldo steps up to take it, sets ball down carefully, strides back with purpose, adopts power stance, puffs out cheeks and begins his run up. Meanwhile, fans prepare for a forthcoming goal-kick.
OK! Magazine
Glastonbury cancelled in 2026 as Eavis family issue major update
Glastonbury Festival will not go ahead in 2026, as the Eavis family have confirmed that the iconic music event will take a fallow year "to give the land a rest"
Manchester Evening News
Intelligence trail leads cops to suspicious minibus travelling back from Glastonbury on the M56
Four people are in custody
Manchester Evening News
Spanish police could solve Jay Slater mystery by doing two key things says missing persons expert
The apprentice bricklayer had travelled to a Masca village Airbnb, roughly a 40-minute drive away from his tourist residence, alongside two British acquaintances
Manchester Evening News
Roy Keane's hilarious reaction to England goal as Ian Wright and Gary Neville celebrate
Jude Bellingham scored a stunning overhead kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time in England vs Slovakia - and Man United icon Roy Keane showed a trademark reaction to the goal
The Independent
Seven people - including four kids - shot by neighbor who once told them to ‘go back to where they came from’
Motive still being investigated, but shooting ‘could’ have racial element, police say
Manchester Evening News
Baby-faced gang members brought misery to town - then refused to talk
Their silence didn't save them
HuffPost
Harvard Law Professor Delivers Chilling Prediction After Trump Immunity Ruling
Laurence Tribe explained what the Supreme Court decision means in "practical purposes" and it's "devastating."
The Telegraph
Small wonder Sir Keir puts his own comfort before country
Shapeshifting Starmer is at it again. Having spent much of the campaign stressing his commitment to “service” and the need to put “country first”, the Labour leader has now suggested he would want to finish work at 6pm on Fridays “pretty well come what may”.

Latest stories