The Last of Us from HBO is creeping ever closer to a release. Although an official date is unknown, HBO boss Casey Bloys recently revealed that fans can expect to see the series sometime in early 2023. Sporadic information and casting choices were announced during the series production, and two more members are now confirmed to be joining The Last of Us, revealed by IGN.

Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard are playing Henry and Sam from the original video game on which the series is based. Fans will know the role these characters play in the show’s overarching story, as they are one of the most memorable storylines to appear in the game. Johnson is known for his roles in The Hate U Give, Your Honor, Kings, and Native Son. Woodard, who will play Johnson’s younger brother, only has one acting credit to his name – Seeds of Hope: The Andrew Jackson Story.

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The Last of Us will star Pedro Pascal in the leading role alongside Bella Ramsey. Nick Offerman, Anna Torv, Murray Bartlett, Merle Dandridge, Gabriel Luna, Jeffrey Pierce, Storm Reid, and Nico Parker round out the cast for HBO’s upcoming series. The official synopsis for The Last of Us reads:

Twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed, Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, 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 game’s narrative is one of the most praised and beloved stories of all time, and if the HBO adaptation sticks anywhere close to the source material, then fans should be in for a treat.

HBO is Making One Key Change to Sam and Henry

Potential Minor Spoilers For The Last of Us Game Series AheadHenry and Sam will remain brothers in HBO’s The Last of Us, just as they were in the video game counterpart, however, the series will make a few minor changes to the character’s backstories. In the game, Joel (Pascal) and Ellie (Ramsey) found the pair in Pittsburgh after the brothers had a run-in with the Hunters, a faction within the game that essentially operates as thieves and killers. Joel, Ellie, Sam, and Henry eventually work to try and escape the city, with plenty of drama ensuing during their mission.


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However, the characters won’t be in Pittsburgh this time, as the press release cited from IGN confirms. ‘Lamar Johnson as Henry and Keivonn Woodard as Sam, brothers in Kansas City, hiding from a revolutionary movement seeking vengeance.’ A Kansas City origin will undoubtedly be different for the characters, and the group they’re evading may be more fleshed out than the game. A TV series will offer more time for the various characters and groups to be examined, which is precisely what HBO is doing.

Two more characters are also confirmed to appear in the series. Marlon and Florence will join the cast, played by Graham Greene and Elaine Miles. These characters may not sound familiar as they weren’t a part of the original games. However, HBO described them as ‘a married couple surviving alone in the wilderness of post-apocalyptic Wyoming.’


Although they aren’t known to fans of the game, their history sounds intriguing, and they may very well be worthy additions to the franchise. Audiences should learn more as marketing begins to ramp up for the series with the potential early 2023 release date.