Summary

Isabela Merced praises chemistry with Bella Ramsey, anticipates strong appeal to
The Last of Us
fans.
Merced’s casting influenced by her excitement as a fan of the game, finds it thrilling.
Merced’s connection to the series extends beyond professional involvement, excited by new cast additions.

Isabela Merced recently expressed her excitement over the upcoming The Last of Us Season 2. The actor will be taking on the role of Dina in the series, which adapts its storyline from the critically acclaimed video game, The Last of Us Part II.

During an interview with Collider, Merced talked about her on-screen interaction with Bella Ramsey, who plays the lead role of Ellie. She hyped the chemistry between them to be immediate and effortless, which the actor believes will strongly appeal to The Last of Us fans. Merced said:

“I’m so excited for people to see my chemistry with Bella.
Bella and I have so much chemistry. From the first day, it was there. There’s no work to be done. I really respect Bella.
I just saw Catherine Called Birdy and Bella has such range and just an honesty about their work. I’m learning so much. I’m very honored to be here.”

The Last Of Us Release Date January 15, 2023 Seasons 2 Studio Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC), Government of Alberta, Naughty Dog Creator Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin

Merced’s connection to the series extends beyond her professional involvement, as she is also a fan of the game. Her decision to join the cast was influenced by her own experience playing The Last of Us Part II, which she found thrilling. Merced shared:

”
When you see the Bloaters, your heart starts racing, your hands are all sweaty, and you can barely hold onto the controller. It’s just an amazing experience.
I consider anything that makes my heart rate go up to be a fun experience, so I enjoyed it. Great work from Neil Druckmann .”

Behind the Scenes with Isabela Merced and the New Faces of The Last of Us Season 2

While The Last of Us Season 2 is still currently filming, Isabela Merced took the chance to open up about how she secured her role and the exciting additions to the cast. Merced shared that her casting was almost serendipitous, describing the experience as a ‘mind-blowing instant connection’ with the series co-creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The actor said:

”
Neil and Craig had reached out to my team and they said, ‘We wanna meet with her for The Last of Us ?’
And my team was like, ‘Hey, for what role?’ And they didn’t specify. They just said, ‘Have her watch the game on YouTube.’ And I was like, ‘I wanna play the game.’ And then, we had a meeting and they proposed it at the meeting.”

Merced was candid about her rapport with Mazin, noting their shared traits, which strengthened their bond.

By the way, Craig and I have a lot of issues in common. Our brains work faster than our mouths, and I just love that about him. He’s definitely one of my go-tos for a life guru, in general, now.

Related 10 Questions We Have for The Last of Us Season 2 The who, what, when, where, why of your favorite premium zombie fungus apocalypse series.

The second season will expand the scope of its story by adding several key new cast members. Young Mazino joins as Jesse, integral to the story arcs of both Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, and Merced’s Dina. The season will also feature a host of characters familiar to fans of the game, including Danny Ramirez as Manny, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, and Kaitlyn Dever as Abby. Additionally, renowned comedian Catherine O’Hara will be stepping into an undisclosed role, adding yet another layer of intrigue to the upcoming episodes.

As of this writing, there is no official premiere date set for
The Last of Us
.