The latest cast member for HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us has been announced and is a familiar face to fans of the franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Merle Dandridge will be reprising her role as Marlene in the series. In the world of The Last of Us, Marlene is the leader of the Fireflies, a militia group who are searching for a vaccine to the Cordyceps infection that has taken hold. She is also one of the people who helps bring protagonists Joel Miller and Ellie together.
Dandridge joins confirmed cast members Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Gabriel Luna, who will play Joel, Ellie, and Joel’s brother Tommy, respectively. Dandridge is also known for her roles in the Half-Life franchise playing Alyx Vance and for her BAFTA-winning role as Kate Collins in Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. On the small screen, Dandridge’s credits include The Night Shift, Greenleaf, and most recently, The Flight Attendant, for which she earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
The Last of Us season one will focus on the events of the first game, which was released to critical acclaim in 2013. Neil Druckmann, who directed both The Last of Us and its 2020 sequel, will serve as an executive producer on the show. Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin will serve as both the show’s Executive Producer and Lead Writer.
The Last of Us is currently in development for HBO; a release date has yet to be confirmed.
Words by Megan Roxburgh
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