New The Last of Us season 2 set photos emerge online, showing Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced in action as Ellie and Dina, respectively. Based on the acclaimed Naughty Dog video game franchise, the hit HBO show premiered in 2023, following Joel (Pedro Pascal) as he transports Ellie, an immune young woman, across a post-apocalyptic U.S. overrun by infected. The Last of Us season 2’s cast introduces a number of newcomers, including Merced as Dina, a key figure from the sequel video game who serves as Ellie’s main love interest.

Set photos from The Last of Us season 2’s Vancouver, British Columbia, production have now been shared online by Canadagraphs on Patreon (via @diamondlynxx on X), showing Ellie and Dina in a post-apocalyptic Seattle. Check out them at the link below:

The four images show Ramsey and Merced, both holding pistols, as they walk down a deteriorated, overgrown city street. Ramsey is wearing a game-accurate costume and is sporting Ellie’s hairstyle from The Last of Us Part II. Merced’s look as Dina isn’t an exact copy of the character’s game appearance, though it’s spiritually very similar. The final image of the four shows Ramsey and Merced taking a break between takes.

The Last Of Us Season 2’s Ellie & Dina Storyline Will Be Crucial To Get Right

Bella Ramsey & Isabela Merced Have A Big Job Ahead Of Them

Just like the Joel and Ellie dynamic was crucial to the acclaimed The Last of Us season 1, capturing the dynamic between Ellie and Dina in season 2 will be key to the sophomore outing’s success. Taking place five years after the events of the first game, the sequel sees Ellie more mature as a young adult, and her romantic and platonic connections with others her age becomes an important part of her arc. Dina, while at first a friend, soon becomes something more in the game.

Thankfully, there’s reason to be optimistic that The Last of Us season 2 will handle this dynamic with skill and subtlety. Season 1 earned rave reviews, and while some of this was due to the show’s intense moments of action and terror, it was the emotional character work and performances that grounded the story. Ramsey proved herself a perfect fit for the role of Ellie, delivering a powerful performance opposite Pascal.

Other actors joining The Last of Us season 2’s cast include: Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Young Mazino as Jesse, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, and Tati Gabrielle as Nora. Catherine O’Hara has also been cast in an unknown role.

While audiences haven’t yet seen Merced’s Dina in action, the actor has starred in movies like Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Turtles All the Way Down, both of which prove she’s more than up for the role. Plus, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who delivered a powerful season 1, were evidently taken by the chemistry between Ramsey and Merced during the latter’s audition process. Many questions still remain about The Last of Us season 2, but Ellie and Dina’s story will certainly be a major part of what’s to come.

Source: Canadagraphs (via @diamondlynxx)