Jeffrey Wright Joins ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 in Video Game Role He Originated

Fresh off his Academy Award nomination, Jeffrey Wright is returning to HBO for the highly-anticipated Season 2 of “The Last of Us.”

The Oscar-nominated “American Fiction” actor, who previously won an Emmy for “Westworld,” is set to play Isaac in the video game adaptation series. Isaac is billed as a “quietly powerful leader of a large militia group who sought liberty but instead has become mired in an endless war against a surprisingly resourceful enemy.”

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Wright also voiced Isaac in “The Last of Us Part II” video game, making his casting a full circle choice for the Emmy-winning series adaptation.

Wright formerly starred in fellow HBO series “Westworld.” Wright was further rumored to have a spinoff series of “The Batman” at Max; the project has since been stalled as “The Penguin” series and “The Batman: Part II” film both move forward.

The actor is repped by CAA, Strategic PR, and the law firm of Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.

In addition to Wright, “The Last of Us” Season 2 has added new cast members Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, and Danny Ramirez as Manny. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.

Returning actors are Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. Get a first look at Season 2 here.

“The Last of Us” is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is also executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells. Production companies are PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.

The series is based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name, which was developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation consoles. The story itself takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. 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.

“The Last of Us” had a record-breaking first season, becoming the most-watched debut season of a series ever for HBO.

In a December 2023 interview with IndieWire’s Anne Thompson, Wright reflected on how starring in TV series “Westworld” shifted his approach to acting as a whole.

“On ‘Westworld’ we would shoot the equivalent of five movies in six or seven months at a super high quality,” Wright said. “So it honed my abilities to be efficient. And move that ball down the field.”

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