The Last of Us series adds three more actors – including one from the games

Close up on the face of Ellie from The Last of Us

(Image credit: Naughty Dog)

The Last of Us TV show has bulked out its cast with three new additions.

Not just any old additions, either. Bill and his lover/partner Frank will be appearing in the upcoming HBO production, as will a completely original character – played by Tommy's voice actor.

Deadline reports that Con O'Neill will play Bill and Murray Bartlett plays Frank. The pair are described as "two post-pandemic survivalists living alone in their own isolated town."

Tommy's voice actor, Jeffrey Pierce, will play Perry, a "rebel in a quarantine zone," potentially Boston if the series is closely following the events of the games.

"So the changes that we're making are designed to fill things out and expand, not to undo, but rather to enhance," Mazin said at the time. Frank’s presence – spoilers: he dies before the events of the first game – also heavily implies that The Last of Us' story is going to be rounded out by flashbacks and scenes that might divert from the games' original path.

The Last of Us series, meanwhile, has just started filming. A new set photo shows Joel actor Pedro Pascal sitting alongside Gabriel Luna (Tommy) and Nico Parker (Joel's daughter, Sarah) in what appears to be a shot set up for the game's tear-jerking prologue.

What won't set us rushing for the tissues, however, is news that the first season of The Last of Us will run for a sizeable 10 episodes. The initial report on the series in March 2020 from The Hollywood Reporter hinted that "multiple seasons" could also be a possibility, so an adaptation of The Last of Us 2 can't be ruled out.

Find out what's coming to cinemas in 2021 with our guide to movie release dates.

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.