Ashley Johnson cried “projectile tears” when called on to play Ellie’s mom in The Last of Us

HBO’s The Last of Us has proved itself to be the most successful video game adaptation to have ever been made. The series was loved by both fans and critics alike, and several of the original actors from the game also made an appearance in the series. Ashley Johnson, who voiced Ellie in The Last of Us video games, couldn’t believe that she was called on to play a role in the TV show.

Why did Ashley Johnson get emotional on her return to The Last of Us franchise?

In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Johnson recalled getting a text from co-showrunner, Neil Druckmann. She said, “Yeah, he just texted and said ‘Hey, Craig [Mazin] and I have been talking and, would you like to play Ellie’s mom?’ and I was just … projectile tears. I was just like ‘What? Are you serious?'”

“The layers of being able to play Ellie’s mom and the metaphor of bringing her into the world and being the first person to fight to keep her alive,” says Johnson. “It’s just wild to me – voice actors generally don’t get into the fold of putting something on screen. I’m so grateful and so happy, and I had a blast shooting it.”

Who does Ashley Johnson play in The Last of Us?

Ashley Johnson originally voiced Ellie in both The Last of Us Part I and Part II. She came back to the franchise as Ellie’s mother, Anna, who was a member of the Fireflies. The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann has previously described his satisfaction on including her in the show, because he couldn’t explore her storyline in the game.

When does The Last of Us Season 2 begin filming?

In a recent interview with Collider, Pascal said, “In the year 2023? Oh, what season are we in now? We’re getting into spring? Yes, there is a chance. Yes.” The first season of The Last of Us took around 18 months to film. So, looking at the time gap, there’s a high probability that the second season won’t be here until 2025.

Read Next: Meet Naboo, the giraffe who bonded with Ellie in The Last of Us Season 1 finale

 

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