Last of Us season two first look at Loughborough's Bella Ramsey

First-look images of Leicestershire’s Bella Ramsey in the highly-anticipated second season of The Last of Us have been released. New cast members and guest stars have also been confirmed for the drama’s return.

Bella, who studied acting at Loughborough’s Stagecoach Theatre, gained global fame for their part of Ellie in the first season of The Last of Us which hit screens last year. The HBO show chronicled Ellie in the aftermath of an end-of-the-world zombie apocalypse as she and fellow survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal) aimed to reach safety.

The star earned widespread critical and public acclaim for their performance in the show which is based on the video game series of the same name. Hopes are high ahead of season two, with HBO now releasing the first images of the forthcoming episodes.

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In the images, Bella’s Ellie is seen in what appears to be a barn and dressed in winter gear. Ellie is also seen holding a gun, meaning potential zombies lie in wait. Pedro’s Joel is also seen in new images but there is little to gain from his surroundings.

Plot details for the second season remain a closely-guarded secret at this stage. However, the drama’s showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have previously confirmed it will follow the plot of the Last of Us video game sequel.

Also returning to The Last of Us are Gabriel Luna as Tommy and Rutina Wesley as Maria, while new cast members include Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina and Spencer Lord as Owen. Home Alone star Catherine O’Hara will also guest star in the series, but her role is yet to be confirmed.

HBO says The Last of Us season two will hit US screens in 2025. It is set to follow soon after in the UK on Sky Atlantic.