The Last of Us is a popular post-apocalyptic television series starring Chilean/American actor Pedro Pascal. The show was brought to us by HBO network, and it first aired in 2023.    

It is now one of the highest-rated TV drama series out there, and it’s based on the hugely successful 2013 video game of the same name. Let’s now dive straight in to see how video game adaptations like this have become a means of attracting top Hollywood talent like Pedro Pascal. 

Why are TV shows like The Last of Us so popular?

There are many reasons why video games that have been adapted into TV shows (aka live-action series) have become so popular in recent years, and some of the key factors include the following:

• Video games like The Last of Us, Fallout, and Assassin’s Creed already have well-established fanbases, and blockbuster titles like this with likeable characters and immersive storylines typically become an instant hit with audiences when they arrive on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
• Major Hollywood actors like Pedro Pascal helped elevate video game adaptations and make them more appealing
• Top directors/producers with big budgets can create much higher-quality productions
• When major studios stay true to the original video games, TV series can help bring the game to life more and appeal to broader audiences

The Last of Us has been considered a turning point in video game adaptations. Over the coming years, even more top Hollywood actors are likely to appear in other similar projects. 

We are also seeing lots more movie video game adaptations, and in the iGaming industry, a similar thing is happening, but in reverse. For example, we are starting to see countless movie-themed games on today’s best online slots UK websites. 

The Goonies Megaways, Jurassic Park: Raptor Riches, Jumanji, Planet of the Apes, Gladiator: Mega Cash Collect, Stargate Megaways, Lara Croft: Tome of the Sun, Highlander, The Naked Gun, Ace Ventura, Top Gun, and Robocop are just a few examples of the most popular movies that have become instant hits as online slot machines. 

What is The Last of Us drama TV series?

Season one focuses on the two main characters, Joel and Ellie (played by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey), as the pair try to navigate through the harshness of a post-apocalyptic world after a devastating global pandemic. The two endure brutal circumstances and try to evade ruthless killers as they make their way across America. 

It’s rated 15 and is now showing on various major streaming platforms like Sky Atlantic and HBO Max. Season two was released in April 2025 and is already proving to be just as popular as season one. 

Pedro Pascal has helped bring Hollywood prestige to a TV drama, and we will likely see even more actors take up roles like this in other hotly anticipated video game adaptations over the coming years.

Which famous Hollywood actors have appeared in video games?

Over the past two decades, we have also witnessed countless Hollywood actors lending their voice (and likeness) to some of the video game industry’s most successful titles. 

Games like Assassin’s Creed, The Artful Escape, Cyberpunk 2077, Death Stranding, Alone in the Dark, Gears of War, The Witcher, Beyond Two Souls, Mass Effect, and many others have featured voices from various major Hollywood actors and actresses, such as Sean Bean, Liam Neeson, Norman Reedus, Patrick Stewart, Chloe Grace Moretz, Kristen Bell, Rami Malek, Keanu Reeves, Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, and countless others. 

Final thoughts

Based on the huge success of The Last of Us and actors like Pedro Pascal it will boost the appeal of starring in video game adaptations. He has set a new standard, and his starring role will no doubt attract even more stars to enter this niche sector of the entertainment industry as more projects become available. 

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