Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey Star in the First Footage From “The Last of Us”

HBO is finally giving viewers a look at its long-awaited series “The Last of Us.” In a new promo released on Aug. 22, HBO Max previewed new shows and seasons coming out before the end of 2022 and early 2023, and the compilation included the first footage of the new series.

“The Last of Us,” based on the bestselling, award-winning video-game series of the same name, stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both “Game of Thrones” alums (though their characters, Oberyn Martell and Lyanna Mormont, never interacted). Pascal’s Joel is tasked with smuggling Ramsey’s Ellie through a postapocalyptic, zombie-infected United States.

In an interview with GQ in April, Pascal revealed that, though he loves the series, he wasn’t very good at playing the video game. “It’s so sad, I haven’t any skill,” the actor said. “I tried, you know. And then it was only a matter of minutes before I had to hand it over to my nephew. It really takes a specific kind of skill, and I don’t have it.”

Though Pascal admires the game, he knew he didn’t want to perfectly imitate it, either. “I found Joel so impressive – I found the whole of it such a visually impressive experience,” he said. “And then I got worried that I would want to imitate too much, which I think could be right in some circumstances, and then a mistake in others. So I just wanted to create a healthy distance, and for that to be more in the hands of [show co-writer] Craig Mazin and [game writer and show co-writer] Neil Druckmann.”

“The Last of Us” filmed in Calgary, Alberta, in 2021, and HBO is planning to release it in early 2023. Keep reading to watch HBO’s teaser for the series, plus what we know about the cast and plot.