Latest news with #TheLastOfUs
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Listen Up The Last Of Us Fans – There's Good News And Bad News About Season 3
Warning: This article contains major spoilers for season two of The Last Of Us. It's been nearly two months since that rollercoaster of a season two finale, and yet The Last Of Us is still playing with our emotions. The post-apocalyptic drama starring Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal and Kaitlyn Dever ended on a huge cliffhanger when the seventh and final episode of the second season aired back in May, and now it turns out we might be looking at quite a long wait until season three. In a recent interview with Variety, HBO content CEO Casey Bloys shed some light on the timeline for the next season. 'The series is definitely planned for 2027,' he explained, suggesting the same wait time (and maybe even longer) that we had between the first two seasons. However, the good news is that there's a possibility of co-creator and showrunner Craig Mazin extending the Emmy-winning show beyond three seasons. 'Craig is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn't been decided yet, and I'm following Craig's lead on that.' Season two focused on Ellie's quest for revenge after Joel's brutal murder by Abby, with fans expecting season three to focus on Abby's perspective of the same events, as depicted in the video game it's based on. After we only saw Pedro's character appear in season two mostly via flashbacks, the HBO exec addressed whether potentially now seeing less of Bella in the next instalment could be a challenge. 'Not from a marketing perspective, because I think the title is obviously helped by the video game, and now the first two seasons is pretty well established,' he explained. 'I kind of appreciate shows that take things and do a show from a different point of view.' The update comes following the news of a huge creative change behind the scenes, as co-creator Neil Druckmann announced he would be stepping back as co-showrunner. Executive producer and writer Halley Gross – who co-wrote The Last Of Us Part II video game and worked on several episodes of season two – also announced that she would be departing from her 'day-to-day' duties on the show 'to make space for what comes next'. The HBO content boss addressed Neil's departure in the new interview, explaining that, while it was 'fantastic to have Neil involved', people often 'don't realise that Neil has a full time job creating video games and running Naughty Dog'. He added that the game creator had 'given us a good blueprint with the show' and that 'obviously Craig is a pro, so I think we'll be in excellent shape. I'm not worried at all'. The Last Of Us is set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been ravaged by a fungus which turns humans into a zombie-like infected species. The latest series is among the frontrunners in the Emmy nominations with 16 nods this year. Related... Pedro Pascal's Stylist Exits After Claiming She Received Death Threats Over One Of His Outfits Bella Ramsey Has Some Strong Feelings About You Calling Pedro Pascal 'Daddy' Bella Ramsey Says This 'Intense' Fear Kept Them From Leaving The House For Months
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Untamed' Review: Netflix's Best New Show Is A Murder Mystery With A Killer Setting
Untamed Two mountain climbers scale the sheer cliffside of Yosemite National Park's El Capitan in the opening moments of Netflix's new murder mystery miniseries, Untamed. This alone is enough to make me squeamish. I don't like heights. I've never understood the appeal of repelling up a mountain, only a dizzying drop to certain death below. Of course, this is no ordinary ascent. As they grapple their way up, a young woman topples down. She's caught in the rope, almost bringing the two climbers down with her. It's a harrowing moment. Light spoilers follow. What looks like a possible suicide is quickly revealed to be something far more sinister, and an investigation kicks off led by taciturn Investigative Services Branch (ISB) agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana). Turner is a man of few words, the sort of grizzled, stoic mountain man that prefers a horse to a truck, and animals to people. He's also very good at his job, just as comfortable interrogating suspects as he is navigating perilous wilderness terrain. He's joined in his investigation by rookie National Park Service ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago) who left her police job in Los Angeles – and a bad relationship – behind to start a new life with her young son. Vasquez is as green as they come, but she's a quick learner. Turner doesn't really like working with people, but he's given no choice. Chief Park Ranger Paul Souter (Sam Neill) makes sure of that. From here, the investigation leads our heroes down an increasingly dark path, first to identify the young woman and then to find out if foul play was involved. Of course, peeling back the truth of the woman's death leads to many other unpleasant revelations. These involve illicit activity in the park as well as Turner's tragic backstory involving his now ex-wife Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt) and their son, who died several years earlier. Untamed The series reminds me a lot of other shows like The Killing, though it's able to fit the entire story into an economical six episodes instead of the 26 that make up that show's first case. In this sense, there's little new or innovative about Untamed. In fact, if The Killing and Taylor Sheridan's (excellent) movie Wind River had a baby, Untamed would be it. Much of the appeal here is in its two main leads: Eric Bana and Yosemite itself. Perhaps the series should have taken a page from Sheridan's biggest hit, Yellowstone, and used Yosemite for the title. It's mostly filmed in British Columbia, but it's gorgeous to look at regardless. The rich forest terrain, the stunning mountains, all that wilderness hiding so much of humanity's darkest secrets. Bana, meanwhile, really channels Pedro Pascal, or at least Pascal's performance in The Last Of Us. Like Joel, this is a man who lost a part of himself when he lost his child. He's turned to booze and solitude and his work to distract himself from the pain and grief of that loss. I kept imagining Pascal in the role, though I'm glad we got Bana instead. Both are fine actors, but Pascal is simply in too many things these days, and Bana is terrific here, tapping into that rugged mountain man exterior while at the same time revealing a much more emotionally charged interior world. Untamed also made me wish that we'd get another season of True Detective from its original creator, Nic Pizzolatto, set in this kind of rugged wilderness. All three seasons of Pizzolatto's True Detective did such a great job of creating a sense of place (whether or not Season 2 worked all that well, the southern California it gave us was remarkably bleak in a way I've never really seen before or since). Seasons 1 and 2 captured the deep south and the Ozarks in grim splendor, making the places come alive in a way that few other shows have ever been able to achieve. Untamed never quite makes Yosemite feel like a real place, no matter how gorgeous the scenery. What it does do is give us a compelling, if not particularly original, mystery in a tight six-episode run, filled with good characters that are easy to root for (or against) and some nice twists and turns to keep us on our toes. This isn't an action-packed series. It's much more about following the clues down whatever mineshaft they lead. There are some moments of tension and even a couple good gunfights, but this is more detective work than shoot-em-up, which I appreciate. Is it groundbreaking? Not at all. Is it a bit too predictable? Absolutely. Is it still a fun watch with some good detective work and emotional beats that keep you invested in the main characters. I certainly thought so. No, this is not on the same level as True Detective, Mare Of Easttown or Happy Valley, but it's a solid watch that doesn't outwear its welcome. Give it a shot. P.S. It's kind of funny that Turner is an ISB agent, because when I think of ISB agents I think of these fine Imperial Security Bureau employees, just doing their best to maintain order in the galaxy: ISB
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Last of Us' fans will have a long wait for season 3, HBO exec reveals
Fans had to wait two years and a month to get more The Last of Us after season 1 wrapped in March 2023. Now, according to HBO content CEO Casey Bloys, they'll have to wait as long, if not longer, for season 3. "The series is definitely planned for 2027," Bloys told Variety recently when asked if the network is on track to program the series for the 2026-2027 content cycle. Co-creator and showrunner Craig Mazin "is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn't been decided yet, and I'm following Craig's lead on that," Bloys revealed. The Last of Us tells the story of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), survivors of a plague born from a fungal mutation that has ushered in the collapse of human civilization, who fight their way across the country to reconnect with old loved ones and stay alive. The first season garnered a mass audience and 24 Emmy nominations, resulting in eight wins. The second season capitalized on the success of its predecessor, despite the lengthy hiatus between seasons. But a lot has changed in the short time since season 2's April premiere. (Spoiler alert!) Pascal's character was killed on only the second episode of the season, and earlier this month, Neil Druckmann, who co-created and has helmed the series alongside Mazin, stepped away from future seasons. Down two key creative players and coming off the dramatic cliffhanger of the season 2 closer, things are looking uncertain at Last of Us HQ. "Obviously it was great to have Neil involved in the beginning," Bloys said, but pointed out that "a lot of people don't realize that Neil has a full-time job creating video games and running Naughty Dog. It's a really big job that he's got... But I believe he's given us a good blueprint with the show. And obviously Craig is a pro, so I think we'll be in excellent shape." When asked if the show would change were Ramsey to also become less involved since season 2's finale set up next season to be told from Abby's (Katilyn Dever) perspective, Bloys said, "Not from a marketing perspective, because I think the title is obviously helped by the video game, and now the first two seasons is pretty well established. I kind of appreciate shows that take things and do a show from a different point of view." Following the season 2 finale, Mazin said, "There is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into," "There's no question that Abby is the hero of her story," he continued. "Kaitlyn Dever is the hero of a story, always. If you have a Kaitlyn Dever, you use a Kaitlyn Dever. So I think where we go next, all I can say is it will always be centering somebody, whether it's Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced), or whether it's Abby and Abby's relationship with Owen (Spencer Lord) or new relationships. If you played the game, you probably know what I'm talking about. But if you want to boil it down, everything is under the cloud or sunlight of Joel, what Joel did to Abby, and what Joel did for Ellie. That will never change." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Digital Trends
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
5 great Pedro Pascal movies to stream
Few actors have had a run quite like the one that Pedro Pascal is on right now. The actor, who rose to fame on Game of Thrones and has since become a dominant presence in both film and television, is starring in three movies this summer, including Fantastic Four: First Steps, Materialists, and Eddington. He's also coming off of the second season of The Last of Us, which means you've had just an insane number of opportunities to watch him on screen. If you're hungry for more, though, we've got you covered with five older movies from Pascal that are all available to stream now: Gladiator II (2024) Although Pascal is not the lead of Gladiator II, he plays a central role in the film as a Roman general who is secretly working to take down the corrupt emperors that he publicly serves. Here, Pascal gets a chance to play an upright hero, and it's a part he fills well. Recommended Videos He's a perfect counterpoint to Paul Mescal's more selfish Lucius, who spends most of the movie convinced that he's after personal vengeance. Although it can't live up to the original, Gladiator II is boosted by Pascal's presence. You can watch Gladiator II on Paramount Plus. The Wild Robot (2023) If there's a running theme on this list, Pascal is always more than willing to play second fiddle. Here, he's doing it in a vocal performance, playing the closest animal companion of the titular robot, a conniving fox who ultimately partners with her to raise a runty goose. The Wild Robot is Lupita Nyong'o's show, but Pascal is both funny and moving as a fox who keeps having to convince himself that he doesn't actually care about anything besides himself. You can watch The Wild Robot on Netflix. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) There's a little too much going on in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, but every scene that Pascal and Nicolas Cage share together is golden. The film follows Cage as he's recruited to infiltrate the compound of one of his biggest fans, who also happens to be the head of a criminal empire. Pascal plays the head of that empire and spends most of the movie telling Cage how much he loves his movies. It's a hilarious, utterly winning performance that has to be charming enough to convince Cage that this guy might not be so bad after all. You can watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on Amazon Prime Video. Triple Frontier (2019) One of the great dudes-rock movies of the past decade, Triple Frontier tells the story of a group of former special operations operatives who reunite to plan a master heist after finding that their home lives are at a dead end. As they undertake the mission, things don't go according to plan, leading to predictably terrible results. Pascal is just one member of a crew that also includes Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck, but he stands out as an actor with an incredible amount of natural presence. You can watch Triple Frontier on Netflix. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) Pascal only has a single scene in Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk, but it's one of the best scenes in an incredible movie. The movie focuses on a Black woman who is dealing with the aftermath of her partner's arrest even while preparing for the arrival of their first child. Pascal shares his scene with Regina King, who plays the main character's mother. As she goes to him to plead for help for her son-in-law, they share an intimate, heartbreaking exchange that reveals the depths to which Pascal can go, even with limited screen time. You can watch If Beale Street Could Talk on Plex.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Last of Us season 3 will 'definitely' arrive in 2027, HBO boss says – but I'm still terrified they'll stretch it out for another season
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. HBO Max boss has said The Last Of Us season 3 might be the show's end This news comes after co-creator Neil Druckmann stepped down to focus on other projects The second season proved divisive among fans and critics based on each season's Rotten Tomatoes score The Last of Us season 3 is set to arrive in 2027, so fans will have to wait a little while to see new episodes on HBO Max. Season 3 will move forward with showrunner Craig Mazin. According to NME, HBO's Francesca Orci revealed that there had previously been conversations with Mazin that suggested the show could run anywhere between three and five seasons. But now, it seems there's a chance it could stop at season 3. HBO boss Casey Bloys told Variety: "The series is definitely planned for 2027. Craig is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn't been decided yet, and I'm following Craig's lead on that." So right now, The Last of Us' long term future at HBO is unconfirmed, but we do know that season 3 is arriving at some point in 2027. The Last of Us' Neil Druckmann will not be back for season 3 There's been some big changes to The Last of Us since the first season. Most notably the departure of lead actor Pedro Pascal as well as co-creator Neil Druckmann, who has stepped back to focus on other projects. Druckmann is celebrated for his work on the original The Last of Us video games and helped to influence the adaptation. He previously spoke about The Last of Us show's timeline change and seemed positive about it, calling it "worthwhile", so he's definitely helped to make the series the best it can be. Speaking about Druckmann's departure, Bloys said to Variety: "It was fantastic to have Neil involved. A lot of people don't realize that Neil has a full time job creating video games and running Naughty Dog. "It's a really big job that he's got. So I understand why he needs to focus on that. But I believe he's given us a good blueprint with the show. And obviously Craig is a pro, so I think we'll be in excellent shape. I'm not worried at all." The Last of Us season 2 has a much lower audience score on Rotten Tomatoes than the first season, scoring 37% vs season 1's 86%, so it will be interesting to see if a continuation of the series beyond the games will land well with fans. Personally, I'd be okay if The Last of Us ended with season 3 because sometimes less is more. You might also like HBO Max free trial: is there one, are there any great HBO Max deals available, and more big questions answered I'm a huge Big Bang Theory fan, but HBO Max's Stuart Fails to Save the Universe spinoff series makes me nervous 3 new A24 movies are coming to HBO Max in July – this is the order you should watch them in, based on their Rotten Tomatoes scores Solve the daily Crossword
