Its been confirmed that the Last of Us HBO series is in the works with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin as the writers and producers. Immediately after getting the news, I thought about who would be the best actors to portray the detailed and heart-wrenching story of Joel and Ellie. Here are 5 actors that would fit perfectly into the role.
UPDATE: We now know who will play Joel and Ellie.
Nikolaj Coster – Waldau
Could there be a more perfect Joel casting? Waldau is most known for his role as Jamie in Game of Thrones, which is also an HBO series, so this casting may prove to come true. Not only does Waldau look a lot like Joel, but he also has the acting experience to pull off this sort of complex role. Let’s hope that Drunkmann and Mazin make this happen.
Hugh Jackman
I know Jackman has come up in people’s minds when they thought about someone playing Joel at least once. Jackman is a seasoned actor who has proved himself in many roles, so he is more than capable of pulling off Joel’s story. He’s played a father figure, which is essentially what Joel is to Ellie as they make their journey. Jackman is a strong option for this particular role.
Ellen Page
Ellen Page would fit right into the role of Ellie. It’s been speculated in the past that Naughty Dog ripped off Page’s likeness when they created Ellie, and I can see why people would say that. There’s an obvious resemblance between Page and Ellie, from the looks to the way she talks in some instances, but accusing Naughty Dog of stealing her likeness is a bold claim. Anyway, Page would be perfect as Ellie, and if you’ve ever seen her movies, it obvious why.
Jeffery Dean Morgan
Morgan has seen success in the horror genre of TV so it would be a good fit for him to continue his career as a zombie killing, father-figure (Joel). Starting with Supernatural, Morgan played a demon hunting father that taught his kids the truth about the world. Morgan’s next big role was America’s most likable villain, Neegan, in The Walking Dead. Morgan has the experience to play a father figure and, although it may not be spot on, he shares a resemblance to Joel. Casting him would prove to be smart for the role and good for marketing.
Kaitlyn Dever
Although I have never seen any of Dever’s work, it’s clear that the resemblance she has to Ellie is almost identical. Judging on her acting career alone, Dever proves to be a phenomenal actress as she has starred in many films and tv series of the years. Dever has been nominated for many rising star awards, so despite her age (23), she is still an experienced actor that would surely have no problem playing Ellie. Her resemblance is just a huge plus in this particular situation.
Who do you think would be a good fit to play the roles of Joel and Ellie? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading, and as always, Stay Gritty, Gamers!
