Family Reactions to ‘The Last of Us’ Cast: Pedro Pascal and Beyond

The Last of Us has also created emotional turmoil for the families of the cast members.

The HBO series, adapted from the video game by Naughty Dog, debuted in January 2023, introducing audiences to the compelling duo of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey).

Pascal, who confessed that he was unaware of the game before landing the role, shared that his nephews reacted with excitement when they learned he would portray Joel.

“I didn’t know about the game until I got the job. Then I quickly found out,” he shared on The Graham Norton Show in March 2023. “It took some explaining.”

After securing the part, Pascal called his sister Javiera Balmeceda, the mother of two teenage boys, Bruno and Pedro.

“I was on speaker when she answered. She was dropping them off at school,” he recounted. “I told her about this job opportunity based on a video game, and they immediately asked, ‘What game?’”

He recalled how they yelled, “You better land that role!” as soon as they realized which game it was.

Pascal’s nephews are not the only ones offering their thoughts about the series. Continue reading for more:

Gabriel Luna

Luna, who takes on the role of Tommy in The Last of Us, has gained popularity among fans, but his 92-year-old grandmother was less than impressed with the season 2 premiere.

“I flew my mom, my 92-year-old grandmother, my baby sister, and my cousin to Los Angeles for the screening of the show a couple of weeks ago,” Luna reminisced during an April 2025 segment on Virgin Radio UK. “There’s an intense moment in the first episode, and I just thought, ‘I hope she’s alright, it’s so loud and violent.’ I turned to my grandmother, and she was completely out, fast asleep.”

Kaitlyn Dever

Dever made her debut as Abby in The Last of Us during season 2. She shared with Variety in March 2025 that she played the video game with her father.

“It was such a wonderful experience to share this with my dad,” she reflected. “We bonded while playing the first game together, and I began the second one with him, but I had to step back since it’s long and I’m not great at gaming.”

Dever added, “He was thrilled when I received the news about portraying Abby. Sharing this experience with my family is always special, but this one is particularly joyful.”

Pedro Pascal

Pascal humorously mentioned his nephews’ spirited response to his role as Joel in a separate March 2023 interview with IGN, claiming they “turned into demons” after discovering the news.

Following his onscreen demise in April 2025, Pascal’s sister Lux Pascal expressed her frustration, stating she “wanted to throw the iPad” she was using to watch and “burst into tears.”

“I was aware of how that episode would conclude. I knew what was coming,” she disclosed to Remezcla. “This isn’t the first time he’s done this to me… How many times has he met his end? Game of Thrones, Equalizer 2, The Last of Us — each death more brutal than the last. Watching my brother die this way, I really didn’t appreciate it.”