Spoilers below for both of The Last of Us’ completed seasons, so be warned if you haven’t yet finished watching on HBO or with a Max subscription.

As The Last of Us’ second season went from development and into the throes of production, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann were fairly candid about their plan to split the video game sequel’s massive narrative in half. HBO still waited until the week before Season 2’s big premiere to officially renew the hit series for Season 3, but it’s definitely confirmed as one of many upcoming video game adaptations. And what an exciting season it’ll be.

After that wild Season 2 finale took out a main character (and a couple of others) while putting even more right in harm’s way, The Last of Us will have viewers on their toes wondering about Ellie’s fate for the foreseeable future. But now that the wait is on, we’re keeping track of all the big Season 3 updates while also speculating about story beats and which characters will and won’t be back. So hop on Shimmer’s back and let’s trot through what we know about the third season so far.

When Will The Last Of Us Season 3 Premiere?

With Season 2 having only just concluded, The Last of Us fans will likely be waiting a while to see how the story plays out for everyone still alive in the theater. To date, no plans are officially in place for the production to begin, much less an official release date on HBO.

It's possible new episodes won't arrive until 2027, which would line up with the nearly two-year wait between the first and second seasons. But hopefully the wait won't be quite so long.

Craig Mazin's Plan Has Been To Start Writing Season 3 After Season 2 Ends

In early April, co-showrunner Craig Mazin talked with GamesRadar+ and was, at the time, still neck-deep in making sure all the final details were locked in place ahead of the Season 2 premiere. As such, he wasn't in the most ideal place to start breaking down the story for future episodes. But he did share that he'd be jumping right back to work after a brief period away from his computer, saying:

Hopefully Mazin opens up on social media about when he starts digging down into outlining the new season.

What Will The Last Of Us' Season 3 Story Be About?

While the creative team no doubt has some surprises in store for The Last of Us viewers, there are at least two overarching storylines that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Season 3 will dig into.

Abby's Story

Mirroring the video game's dual narratives. taking place during the same time frame, The Last of Us delivered Ellie's side of this tragic tale in Season 2, with the vast bulk of Abby-centric scenes being held for the third cycle. It's almost a bigger risk to bifurcate things so completely, since it gives TV audiences more time to stew in hatred for the supposed villain, but I've little doubt that the writers will successfully put fans in Abby's shoes quickly enough to somewhat justify her awful actions.

To that end, Mazin and Druckmann will also take viewers deeper into Abby's daily regimen as a trusted soldier under Isaac's WLF leadership, as well as her personal life and relationships with others in her group. Just in case anyone thought that Owen and Mel's deaths in the finale were already tragic enough, there's a lot more backstory to fill out for those two and others.

The War Between The Wolves And The Scars

Once Jeffrey Wright's callous and intimidating Isaac was introduced in Episode 204, I assumed the TV series would give viewers some kind of bullet-pointed exposition giving context to the ongoing conflict between the militant WLF soldiers and the cult-like Seraphites. But in the podcast episode that followed "Day One," Craig Mazin explained that Season 3 will provide answers to such questions, and that worries about not being renewed fed into the decision to hold off on those details entirely.

I can't wait to see where that journey into the heart of darkness goes, although I realize it's going to be as unpleasant as this show gets. With Isaac leading dozens of Wolves to their assumed doom specifically to destroy the Seraphites' island community, one can be sure this didn't all start over something inconsequential.

The Last Of Us Characters And Cast Members Most Likely To Return In Season 3

Ellie (Bella Ramsey) & Dina (Isabela Merced) - Alive, Presumed Alive

• I think we can all agree that this duo is the most obvious pair of characters destined to be back on the small screen for The Last of Us Season 3, so it's not really worth going into the reasons why it's logical, even if we didn't see where Dina was after Abby breached the theater.

Joel (Pedro Pascal) - Beaten And Stabbed To Death By Abby

• While it definitely seemed like Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann utilized the bulk of the games' Joel-centric flashbacks in Season 2's penultimate episode, I can't help but feel like the co-creators will continue giving viewers emotional pops that coincide with Ellie's memories, or perhaps even Abby's nightmares.

Tommy (Gabriel Luna) & Maria (Rutina Wesley) - Alive, Alive

• While Maria's safety isn't in question by the end of Season 2, Tommy being at the end of Abby's gun barrel is not the happiest situation for the character. That said, he didn't appear to be fatally wounded in those final moments, and it didn't appear as if Abby's final gunshot was meant for his head.

Jesse (Young Mazino) - Shot To Death By Abby

• Honestly, I don't expect Jesse to get a ton of extra scenes in Season 3, and while it would be good to see more from him and DIna in private, I really only expect to see Jesse return whenever the show returns to that final scene from Abby's point of view. A sad reason to have the actor back on set, but still.

Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) - Alive

• Considering Season 2 ends with her likely aiming to put a bullet between Ellie's eyes, I'd say the chances are higher than Gail that Abby will return almost immediately when Season 3 kicks off.

Owen (Spencer Lord) & Mel (Ariela Barer) - Both Killed By Ellie

Despite being taken out of the story rather unceremoniously in the midst of the confrontation with Ellie, Owen and Mel's personal stories have yet to be explored, so I can only imagine that they'll get even deeper backstories that help make their eventual doomed fates all the more gut-wrenching to witness.

Nora (Tati Gabrielle) - Presumed Dead

As the first in Abby's group to get picked off in the game, Nora doesn't necessarily have the most interesting history to explore for the TV series, but Tati Gabrielle's performance in the back half of "Feel Her Love" was so excellent, I can't imagine we won't get a few heartbreaking details from her past to think about.

Manny (Danny Ramirez) - Presumed Alive

Manny is the only core member of Abby's group whose fate isn't explored by the Season 2 finale, as he wasn't seen again beyond his appearance in "Day One." So it would be baffling if this character didn't show up again before the end of the season.

Isaac (Jeffrey Wright) - Presumed Alive

The WLF's rather sadistic leader has yet to have his actions explored or explained for audiences, so I'm waiting for Season 3 to dig into Isaac's twisted outlook and what the ongoing conflict between the soldiers and the Seraphites is all about in the HBO series' lore. And I'm assuming Isaac will still have his loyal second banana Burton (Ben Ahlers) around.

The Last Of Us Characters And Cast Members Least Likely To Return In Season 3

Eugene (Joe Pantoliano) - Shot To Death By Joel

• As much as I'd love to witness a scene where Joey Pants and Catherine O'Hara were actually on-screen together as married couple Eugene and Gail, I don't see the need for him to return after such an emotionally gripping guest spot in "The Price."

Gail (Catherine O'Hara) - Alive

I'm not 100% convinced that we won't see Gail again in Season 3, because I think we can all agree it would be a TV sin to get rid of Catherine O'Hara without a reason. But if Abby's group gets the bulk of the screentime in Season 3, I'm not sure how much time would need to be spent with Gail now that we've seen Eugene's death play out. Plus, Catherine O'Hara shared with Variety that Mazin told her she wouldn't be back in Season 3.

Javier Miller (Tony Dalton) - Fate Unknown, Presumed Dead

Considering Joel's family history didn't extend beyond Sarah and Tommy in the video games, the TV series introduced the Miller boys' father as a self-aware abuser hoping for Joel to break the genetic cycle of violence. His lone scene was key to exploring Joel's surrogate-father mindset in "The Price," but he likely won't be required for any future introspective flashbacks.

Seth (Robert John Burke) - Alive

For all that I'm holding out hope to see more from Maria and Gail, I can't imagine The Last of Us will give the bigoted service worker yet another chance to partially redeem himself for his slurred rudeness and Ellie and Dina kissed.

Season 3 Likely Won't Be The Final Season

With a post-apocalyptic show like The Walking Dead spanning eleven seasons and a wide variety of spinoffs, one might think The Last of Us would be similarly geared for an extended run, but that's not at all the gameplan for this universe. Mazin and Druckman have stated in interviews that they don't want to make the Game of Thrones mistake of taking the live-action adaptation beyond the previously existing story.

Without a third video game in the works yet, or even fully confirmed to one day exist, the implication would be that the TV show would need to wrap it up after the events of the second game have been adapted in full. And yet...

Craig Mazin shared with Collider that he doesn't think the creative team will be able to properly fit the rest of the game's story into the third season, even if it ends up being longer than the second. In his words:

So there's a chance that Season 3 will end on the exact same cliffhanger, just from a different perspective. I hope that won't be the case, but it certainly seems possible.

Spoilers below for anyone who isn’t watching The Last of Us’ Season 2 finale airing on HBO or streaming it with a Max subscription, so be warned!

Welp, just six weeks after The Last of Us returned for its heart-eviscerating second season, we’ve already arrived at the finale. I feel like there should be blame to throw around for not matching its predecessor’s nine-episode count, but that’s just how co-showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann decided to split the story at the heart of the source material. Regardless, I’m just all-around not ready for this show to take another 20-month absence before Season 3 arrives. (Here's what we know about Season 3 so far.)

But that's enough whinging about the future when I'm here to focus entirely on the present for my final Last of Us Season 2 live blog. (Unless, of course, HBO reveals a super-secret eighth episode is airing next week.) Check out all of my previous entries below.

• The Last Of Us Season 2 Premiere Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 3 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 4 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 5 Watchalong
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 6 Watchalong

The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale Live Blog Starts Here

First and foremost, a big thanks to all of YOU for showing up week after week, with the same amount of thankful grace shown to anyone who’s following along for the first time. I can appreciate the irony in jumping on board right when the ride is ending. What a ride I’m expecting it to be.

Before the festivities kick off, here are a few anti-predictions for what I definitely don’t expect to happen during the episode:

1. Ellie will find Abby and before they can fight, they both bond really hardcore over a shared love of ‘90s grunge rock.
2. Tommy will wear a totally faded shirt that wouldn’t stick out against any background.
3. Jesse will be totally cool with every aspect of Ellie and Dina’s burgeoning relationship and won’t say anything harsh.
4. TV’s first Clicker-on-Clicker sex scene, coinciding with TV’s last Clicker-on-Clicker sex scene.

No Cold Open

Considering most cold opens end on a somber note that the opening titles serve to punctuate, I guess it’s a positive thing that the finale is just getting straight into the meat of it all. Coulda used another smack of Pedro Pascal’s Joel, especially after seeing the return of the single figure at the end. Sigh.

Dr. Jesse Operates On Dina’s Gnarly Leg Wound

It’s bonkers to me that Jesse and Dina traveled all the way back to the theater before doing something about the arrow in her leg. I understand why they had to hoof it, of course, but I’m not sure my own body would have followed suit so successfully. Also, is it a bad omen that Dina starts this episode off saying Jesse can't let her die? I choose to say no.

If only all doctors told their patients to shut up and drink alcohol before an operation. Surely Jesse is wondering why Dina would refuse the booze, right?

I gotta say, the sound of the arrow being pushed through the back of Dina’s leg would be enough to get me to down a shot or two, even if I was pregnant. (Considering I’m male, the leg wound wouldn’t be the one topping the list of medical anomalies.) I now feel bad for Isabela Merced having to act with Dina’s wound for the rest of the episode and beyond.

A Shimmer Reference!

Fans have been waiting for an update about Ellie’s horse since the old gal was left behind in the record shop to munch on some grass. Although I’m not sure if it counts that Jesse namechecked the animal as a form of security to make sure it was Ellie banging on the door.

• “Shimmer. I’m alone. Open the fucking door!” - Ellie, alone and wet and horseless

Still no actual update though...

Dina Cleanses Ellie's Wounds And Soul

Though they haven't been away from each other for that long, quite a lot transpired since Ellie and Dina were in the same space. And bless Dina for her first move to be to take care of Ellie, already letting the motherly feelings set in.

Also, holy fuck, Ellie's back.

Ellie comes clean about what happened with Nora after I initially thought she'd lie about it, reflecting Joel's lies to Gail about Eugene. She says she left Nora for dead, which is probably the truth, though she doesn't mention the spores at all. Still, this confession was enough.

• “I made her talk. I thought it would be harder to do, but it wasn’t. It was easy. I just kept hurting her.” - Repentant Ellie

Ellie then comes clean and gives Dina the TLDR version of events that led to Abby murdering Joel, confirming that she took a trip out to Salt Lake City and learned what Joel did to Abby's father. I wasn't even sure if Ellie was telling Nora the truth in saying she knew what Joel did, but this brings the story closer to the game's version of events.

"I knew" could become the newest version of "You swore."

Dina Gives Ellie THE BRACELET

It's unclear whether or not the bracelet will come up again in this particular finale, but anyone watching who didn't play the games should keep an eye on Ellie's wrist in future episodes. It may not be quite as meaningful as Joel's watch, but give it time.

SHIMMER LIVES!!!

Aw hell yeah, Jesse, for this update:

• "We followed the likeliest path into the city. Found the place you stashed Shimmer. She’s still there doing alright, not that you asked." - Jesse, not horsing around

Three cheers!

Everything Changing Doesn't Have To Change Things

Ellie may have grown up a lot since her time as a 14-year-old, but one talk with Jesse is a quick reminder that she has a long way to go still.

Jesse is indeed all clued in about Dina's pregnancy, which he tricked Ellie into admitting, and is going forward with the knowledge that he needs to survive long enough to make sure Dina and his kid make it back to safety. Because that kind of plan goes REALLY WELL in this universe.

Jesse Doomed Himself, Didn't He?

As soon as Jesse says the words "I'm not dying" in any context, it kinda sealed his doom in my mind. One can hope for the better, but one doesn't get to take amoral stances on children getting killed by WLF soldiers right after talking about wanting to keep his unborn child safe. Something doesn't add up there, Jesse.

Costco Cameo!

I love that this wasn't just a generically named store, and is 100% a Costco.

Abby Is Isaac's WLF Successor

Abby's importance within the WLF is set up pretty well here, and without really putting a bow on it. Elise initially suspects Isaac is horned up for Abby, but soon learns of Isaac's other plans for the future, involving the possible death of all his soldiers on what sounds like a dangerous mission.

Grover Cameo!

One of my favorite books of all time is The Monster at the End of This Book. I still have my original softcover, as well as the newer version bought for my daughters. The Last of Us won my heart once more when Ellie picked that book up. We're all the monsters here.

Jesse Is Maria's Jackson Successor (I.E. Saint Jesse Of Wyoming Is Super-Doomed)

I love that Jesse and Ellie's heartfelt conversation happens in the bookstore that looks so close to the game's version.

Jesse's attempt to once again school Ellie in responsibilities was met with this hilarious reaction:

• “Oookay. Got it. So you’re St. Jesse of Wyoming, and everyone else is a fucking asshole.” - Ellie on a pedestal

Bwahahaha.

The Truth About Jesse's Vote

Aha! After the episde in which Ellie sought to get assistance on her revenge quest, she was voted down by Jackson's city council, and it wasn't clear at the time who voted for or against Ellie. Now we know that Jesse was one of the dissenting votes. And we know that Ellie did not take that news very lightly, nor did she buy into his community-based defense.

• "Fuck the community! You let a kid die today Jesse. Because why, because he wasn’t in your community?" - Ellie, still on a rampage

Can't blame her for immediately invoking Joel's memory there. Read the room, Jesse, especially after you were just in a bookstore.

So Many WLF Soldiers Going On This Mission

Remember when Dina and Ellie were in that one building with all the stalkers, and they realized they were surrounded by way more of them than they expected? That's exactly what it was like to see all those boat lights come on just as Ellie was about to make her presence known via gunshots.

Isaac is not fucking around here. I hope this wasn't the last we see of Jeffrey Wright.

Ellie Doomed Boat Ride

I get why Ellie felt the need to go out in the worst elements possible, but that massive wave was a good indicator of why she should have reconsidered it a few dozen times.

But wait, what shore did she wash up on?

Is Ellie's Hanging A Game Swap?

The video game features a key sequence where Abby is discovered by Seraphites and strung up by rope in a way that's pretty similar to what happens with Ellie in the TV show. It's also a point where another pair of very important characters are introduced, which doesn't happen here.

And no one even dies during the scene, as the Scars are distracted by the wave of destruction happening elsewhere on the island. And then Ellie gets back in her boat and makes it to the other island without issue. So....I don't know if I understand the decisions made here.

Ellie Enters The Aquarium

The aquarium where Owen and Mel are holed up is a vital location in the game, and will no doubt be explored way more in Season 3. Because we only get to see it in the darkness here, with a cold and wet Ellie skulking around. Still, I do love those jellyfish decorations and the hanging sharks.

I kept an eye out for targets in the main room, but didn't see anything.

R.I.P. Owen And Mel

Ellie finds Owen and Mel talking about leaving, with Abby's location being discussed. We'll no doubt learn more about that at a later date. But it means nothing for now, because Owen's stupid move to go for a weapon instead of show Ellie his map got him shot in the throat.

Not only that, but the bullet exited cleanly enough to nick the side of Mel's throat, and it's immediately clear that she's a goner. What isn't quite clear yet is that Mel is pregnant, presumably with Owen's child.

In what will likely go down as one of this show's Top 5 Most Heartbreaking Scenes, Mel attempts to direct Ellie through delivering the baby before she dies, and isn't capable of understanding that Ellie is panicking and not actually helping.

• "is it out?" - Mel, destroying my soul

Ellie seems to be way more destroyed by this turn of events than she expected, since she only aimed to kill Abby in the same way Abby aimed directly for Joel. The way Bella Ramsey's voice broke on the line "I'm not like you" was everything. What a tragic goddamned scene.

Tommy And Jesse Rescue Ellie Once More

Tommy's attempt to make Ellie feel better doesn't really do that, and only speaks to the heinous lack of innocence in this universe.

• “They were part of it too. They made their choices. That’s all there is to it.” - Cold, Hard Tommy

If only it was that easy, Tommy.

R.I.P. Jesse

Even with all the foreshadowing, seeing Jesse get shot and put down with such quickness was still a jolt to all my nerve endings. And there's no questioning whether he survived this one, either.

Abby's Back, Motherfuckers

Anyone wondering where Abby's been needs not wonder anymore. The episode's current-day timeline ends with Jesse dead on the floor, Tommy still alive on the floor at gunpoint, and Ellie potentially at the receiving end of Abby's final gunshot.

• "I let you live. I let you live, and you wasted it!" - Abby as Terminator's Sarah Connor

Kaitlyn Dever looks so damned cool in this scene, man. I know we're supposed to be all against Abby and everything, but how can I hate someone that oozes badassery like that?

Another Fun Book Cameo

The mini-flashback kicks off with Abby waking up on a couch while prominently holding a book titled Thieves of the City, as written by Ben Davidoff. That title and author are actually a nod to the real-life historical fiction novel City of Thieves by former Game of Thrones co-showrunner David Benioff.

Fun Fact: The Last of Us Part II’s key character Lev, who has yet to be introduced in live-action, was named in part after the main character Lev in Benioff’s novel.

Return To Day One - Abby's Version

After all the darkness, rain and run-down indoor spaces that marked Ellie and Dina's trip to Seattle, The Last of Us' second season finale ends on a wildly bright note as Abby walks outside to the WLF's main compound, which fills up a literal football stadium, with tons of military buildings, farm crops and more makeshift settlement elements taking up the bulk of what appears to be Lumen Field.

Interestingly, the stadium opened in 2002, so the Seahawks would have only played a single season there before the world went kablooey with cordyceps the next year. I'd love to know how much research went into this part of the live-action series.

"Convergence" Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Monsters At The End Of This Live Blog

It'll take a bit for me to properly assess what I think about the pacing and episode order of Season 2, but I can't deny that this show takes me on an emotional ride like few others. Even when I already know that huge characters deaths are around the corner, my insides still turn into a neurotic butterfly convention at various points in each episode. So even if all seven episodes in a row might give me cause to nitpick, thinking about each ep individually is easier on the brain.

As a finale, "Convergence" taps into certain cliffhanger frustrations, and the thought that we might be waiting most of Season 3 to learn what happens in the aftermath of that final scene is agony to consider.

But given the unique nature of Season 3 exploring the backstories of Abby and her group, this finale sets up some pretty tragic outcomes that will be interesting to get more context for in later episodes. It's not the normal way for TV storytelling to work, and I'm confident this creative team can make it work in live-action despite TV audiences having to wait so long to learn what happens next, while gamers just needed to keep playing.

Thank You For Following Along

Covering The Last of Us Season 2 was in some ways just as fun as playing it and watching it, even if the stress level was a bit higher. So I once again thank everyone for reading along week to week! Let's all meet up again for Season 3, shall we? Just remember to bring food and supplies, unlike Ellie.

It’s not uncommon for actors to work together on multiple TV or movie projects. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler and Kenan Thompson & Kel Mitchell are just a few of the acting duos that can be mentioned. The Last of Us Season 2 co-stars Gabriel Luna and Catherine O’Hara now have a couple of shared credits, too.. Years before working alongside each other on the post-apocalyptic drama series (airing amid the 2025 TV schedule), they worked together on a movie. The stars recreated a BTS pic from the film, and Luna looks so youthful.

16 years ago, Catherine O’Hara and Gabriel Luna worked together on the TV film Temple Grandin, which is, coincidentally, also an HBO production. The movie focuses on the titular Grandin, an ethologist who revolutionized the way in which cattle and other livestock are treated on ranches and slaughter houses. Luna made note of his long-standing connection to his co-star by sharing two BTS photos. The first shows them in a trailer from their time working on the movie and the other is taken from production on TLoU. Check it out:

I don’t know what’s more adorable: the photos – which are staged identically – or the lovely caption that the former Ghost Rider portrayer added to his post. The fact that he’s had the opportunity to work with “Catherine the Great” multiple times is so cool, and I’m quite envious. Ultimately, I’d say that both actors have aged well, though I have to say I can’t get over just how young Gabriel Luna looks in the flashback pic. The now-42-year-old actor’s skin looked as smooth as a baby’s. Take a look at his lovely message:

The fact that the Terminator: Dark Fate actor kept that photo would seemingly indicate that he appreciated the opportunity to work with Catherine O’Hara at that point in his career. I know I’d be fanboying over O’Hara, who was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her role in Temple Grandin. Fate can work in mysterious ways and, in this case, it’s wonderful that it worked in a way that allowed these two talented actors to work together again.

Speaking of their most recent work, for The Last of Us’ latest season (which can be streamed with a Max subscription), Gabriel Luna reprises his role as Tommy Miller. Catherine O’Hara, on the other hand, plays psychotherapist Gail, an entirely new character not present in the games on which the show is based. Both stars play their roles perfectly, and I was quite happy when Gail and Tommy had an incredibly personal conversation during the season’s third episode, “The Path,” which tackles the aftermath of THAT Joel tragedy.

Hopefully, we’ll have the opportunity to see Tommy and Gail chop it up a bit more before the season comes to an end. At the same time, I’m hopeful that the Luna/O’Hara dynamic remains strong off camera. I’d love to see them work together again at some point. In the meantime, though, I’m just going to keep admiring Luna’s sweet throwback photo – and try not to be envious of how flawless his skin looked.

Watch the two stars on The Last of Us, which airs new episodes on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sundays.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet returned to The Last of Us’ Jackson via HBO or Max subscription, so be warned and keep those weaponized tissues close.

Despite making a few story-specific changes from the source material, The Last of Us co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (and esteemed director Mark Mylod) delivered one of the most shocking and traumatic episodes of any TV series airing in 2025, culminating in the death of Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller. And then somehow, another new episode emerged — read my live-blog watchalong coverage for “The Path” — taking viewers into the aftermath of the protagonist’s murder.

Watching an in-shock Ellie’s tear-filled terror during the cold open was just as affecting as Bella Ramsey’s emotional performance in the prior episode, and as a viewer, it was all too easy to mentally support the character’s goal of corralling a team to hunt down Abby and get justice for her crimes. (Yes, even knowing the potentially justifiable reasons behind her actions.) But at no point did I expect Tommy and Maria’s city council to approve her request, and the 8-3 vote against wasn’t too surprising.

Interestingly enough, however, the episode isn't strictly clear about exactly who provided the three votes in Ellie's favor. And while Gabriel Luna's Tommy can easily be assumed as one "Yes," the other two are slightly more difficult to nail down. In fact, during a post-screening Q&A for Episode 203 (via Variety), Luna and co-star Isabela Merced shared opposing assumptions about who was and wasn't involved.

When asked, Gabriel Luna shared his take that both Tommy and Maria voted in line with Ellie's wishes, and he isn't sure who offered up the third "Yes" vote. In Luna's mind, it didn't come from Young Mazino's Jesse, despite his fruitful advice to Ellie about how to get people to hear her argument. As the former Ghost Rider portrayer explained that assumption with:

A very interesting declaration, even though this episode in particular delivered a couple of around-the-town moments where Tommy is clearly viewing Jesse as a cross between a boss and a surrogate father. So that writing is pretty much on the wall already, and I can see why Luna thinks Jesse would vote with a mind towards the future, as opposed to the past.

Isabela Merced, whose character Dina is romantically involved with Jesse on a sporadic basis, argued against Gabriel Luna's point, saying it was plainly unclear where the third vote would have come from. And when the Tommy actor shared that Young Mazino told him he'd voted no, Merced amusingly clapped back with this slice of logic:

I do wonder whether or not Mazino's info tidbit actually matters within the context of the scene. Which is to say, Mazino could have literally written "no" on a piece of paper while filming the city council scene, only for it to not technically count towards the scripted 8-3 votings results.

In that respect, it's technically possible for all of the council members to have written whatever they wanted as their votes. Tommy could have written "I'm happy Joel's dead" for all we know. I mean, I'm sincerely hoping he didn't, but it's possible.

Honestly, I wouldn't have gone so far as to automatically assume that Maria would have voted approvingly for Ellie's plan. Since she would have known where Tommy's head was, I'd think she would have opted for the choice to keep the community safe, at least while reconstruction mode was still happening. (Which might be the unfair influence of the game's Maria.)

But however it goes, Ellie may have one or two city council members who are secretly on her side, and could potentially offer a helping hand when it's needed most and expected the least. Not that anyone else sitting behind that table looked anywhere near as capable as Tommy or Maria, but every bit of positivity counts.

Hopefully The Last of Us drops a subtle (or not) reveal for where the third vote came from when new episodes hit HBO and Max every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Major spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched The Last of Us’ second episode of Season 2 on HBO or with a Max subscription, so be warned!

Holy crapola. Just one week after we here at CinemaBlend championed The Last of Us’ Season 2 premiere for expanding the scope of Tommy and Maria’s Jackson, Wyoming settlement, and for delivering some awesome moments straight out of the video games, the show went and broke our hearts and our brains all in one fell swoop. Well, it was more like multiple swings of a golf club.

“Through the Valley” brought to live-action arguably the most devastating sequence from Naughty Dog’s video game sequel The Last of Us Part II, and Kaitlyn Dever’s vengeful Abby held nothing back as she manipulated Joel and Dina into joining the rest of her group, and subsequently beat Pedro Pascal’s character until he was a broken, bruised and bloodied pulp. And all while Bella Ramsey’s subdued Ellie watched through tear-filled eyes.

It’s shocking just how closely the sequence adheres to the source material, despite some alterations like Abby’s final blow. But easily the biggest change made was the decision to have Dina go out on patrol with Joel instead of Tommy, which will no doubt have major ramifications down the line that also play out differently from what gamers experienced. And after hearing the co-creators’ explanation, I’m convinced it was the right move. As Neil Druckmann put it:

One of my favorite details while watching (and writing about) The Last of Us' Season 2 premiere was how quickly the TV series addressed Joel and Dina's friendly relationship, something that was alluded to in the video game without a real way to explore those moments meaningfully. And even though they've technically only shared a couple of scenes in the series, it was enough to justify them heading out on patrol together.

As gamers are aware, it's Tommy who heads out into the snow with Joel, and it's Tommy who gets spared along with Ellie by Abby's group after their murderous goal has been accomplished. Within the context of that specific story, that was the wiser choice in a way that kept Tommy and Ellie connected through shared trauma.

Developing that kinship less of a necessity in the HBO series, where Maria is far more of an active character and can help anchor completely different storylines. In this case, it wouldn't have made sense narratively speaking for Tommy to have left Jackson right before a massive swarm of defrosted monsters attacked and breached the walls.

Having Dina There For Joel's Murder Will Make Her Bond With Ellie Even Stronger

While I can't imagine many people would readily call The Last of Us games romances, there's no denying the emotional resonance that Dina and Ellie evoke in the source material. The Season 2 premiere rather quickly proved Isabela Merced and Bella Ramsey capable of mirroring their digital selves without the need to alter any other scenes, but still.

Even if Dina was unconscious for the entirety of Joel's torture and eventual murder, her having ben kidnapped and drugged makes it just as much her trauma as Ellie's, and gives them another morally repugnant stepping stone in their burgeoning relationship. And that was part of why The Last of Us' co-creators made that character swap for the series. As Craig Mazin put it:

Obviously the game's take on Dina felt for Joel and for Ellie in the aftermath of Abby's atrocious act, but she often felt like a surrogate audience member getting the play-by-play from Ellie without always being an intrinsic part of the action. But here, Merced is given the chance to cement her character to Ellie's hyper-dark existence in a way that will no doubt make their shared future all the more tumultuous and hard to watch.

I’m not sure how the impending episode delving into Eugene and Gail’s backstory can be as depressing as Joel’s fatal bludgeoning, but I know I’ll be back in front of my TV whenever it airs. Be sure to tune in every Sunday night on HBO at 9:00 p.m. ET, with streaming available on Max as well, and keep a non-bashed-in eye open for other upcoming horror TV shows on the way.

After decades of dominating at the box office and taking the action genre to new heights time and time again, Arnold Schwarzenegger has made his small-screen debut with the new action-comedy, FUBAR. The 2023 Netflix TV show, which follows his character as he teams up with his daughter to take on a common enemy, brings with it a lot of great actors and actresses, even when not counting the Governator. 

If you just watched the new Netflix title, or plan on checking it out in the near future, there’s a good chance that you’re wondering where you’ve seen the FUBAR cast before. Well, buckle up, because we’re about to break down all the stars and why they look so familiar. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Luke Brunner)

Leading the FUBAR cast is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who takes on the role of veteran CIA operative Luke Brunner.

Though this is his first TV series, the actor is one of the most recognizable faces in all of Hollywood thanks to appearances in some of the best action movies of all time. With films like Kindergarten Cop, Last Action Hero, True Lies, and the Terminator franchise, it’s easy to see why he has remained a leading Hollywood figure the past 40+ years. 

Monica Barbaro (Emma Brunner)

Monica Barbaro shows up on FUBAR as Emma Brunner, Luke’s daughter who initially has no idea that her father is also a CIA operative before getting put on a mission together.

If you were a fan of Top Gun: Maverick, then you’ll certainly recognize Barbaro from her portrayal of Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, one of the breakout stars of the long-awaited Tom Cruise sequel. Fans of the One Chicago franchise might also remember Barbaro from her take on Assistant State’s Attorney Anna Valdez on Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice a few years ago. Barbaro’s other small-screen appearances include shows like The Good Cop, Splitting Up Together, and Stumptown.

Fabiana Udenio (Tally Brunner)

Fabiana Udenio takes on the role of Tally Brunner, Luke’s ex-wife, on FUBAR.

Fans of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery will have a blast from the past with FUBAR, as Udenio famously played Alotta Fagina in the 1997 spy comedy. Over the years, Udenio has also appeared in movies like In the Army Now, The Wedding Planner, and Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas. She has also made multiple TV appearances throughout her career, including shows like Jane the Virgin, the 2008 reboot of 90210, and several others. 

Jay Baruchel (Carter)

Next up is Jay Baruchel, who joins the cast as Carter, Emma’s boyfriend, whose relationship is thrown into disarray due to the whole CIA situation.

Whether it’s his spot in the Knocked Up cast, his lead role in the various How to Train Your Dragon movies, or the end-of-the-world comedy This is the End, there are plenty of reasons why he looks so familiar. Over the years, Baruchel has also popped up on TV shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Undeclared, Man Seeking Woman, and even a couple of episodes of Letterkenny. 

Gabriel Luna (Boro) 

Though he played a more noble character on HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation earlier in 2023, Gabriel Luna’s character, Boro, is anything but on FUBAR.

Outside of his portrayal of Tommy on the sci-fi hit, Luna’s other notable performances include turns in movies like Terminator: Dark Fate (where he co-starred alongside Schwarzenegger), Bernie, and Hala. If you were a fan of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., then chances are you’ll recognize Luna from his portrayal of Robbie Reyes, a.k.a., Ghost Rider. 

Aparna Brielle (Tina) 

Tina, the analyst who joins Luke Brunner on his undercover mission throughout FUBAR, is portrayed by Aparna Brielle.

Despite having not been in the TV game for all that long (her first small-screen appearance was in a 2014 episode of Grimm), Brielle has been quite busy over the course of the past few years. This includes major roles on shows like A.P. Bio, starring It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia mainstay Glenn Howerton, and the 2022 Netflix comedy, Boo-Bitch. She also made a brief appearance in the 2019 Kevin Smith movie, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. 

Andy Buckley (Donnie) 

Andy Buckley, who is probably best known for his portrayal of Dunder MIfflin CFO (and later CEO) David Wallace, shows up as Donnie, Tally’s partner.

Outside of being a part of The Office cast, Buckley has appeared on TV comedies like Veep, Casual, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Shameless, Arrested Development, and American Dad. His film appearances include movies like Jurassic World, A Million Little Pieces, Bombshell, Horrible Bosses 2, and The Other Guys, to name a few. 

Fortune Feimster (Roo)

Fortune Feimster pops up as Roo, another core member of Luke and Emma’s team of undercover agents, one who especially provides some of the show’s biggest laughs.

Since making her small-screen debut on the 2010 competition series Last Comic Standing, Feimster has gone on to become one of the most recognizable faces in the world of standup comedy, and comedy in general. With multiple Netflix standup specials, appearances on talks shows like Chelsea Lately and competitions like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Feimster’s been a little bit of everywhere the past decade. She has also had recurring roles on shows like Bless the Hearts, Life in Pieces, and The Mindy Project over the years.

Those who watched Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar once, twice, or countless times, will probably recognize Feimster from the surprising 2021 comedy.  

Milan Carter (Barry)

Milan Carter appears as Barry, the tech-wiz in Luke’s group of undercover secret agents.

Prior to joining the cast, Carter made appearances in movies like Dolemite is My Name, and various TV shows such as The Neighborhood, Warped!, and Runaways. 

Travis Van Winkle (Aldon)

And then there is Travis Van Winkle, who plays Aldon, a secret agent who has a major crush on Emma.

Throughout his career, Van Winkle has appeared on shows like The O.C., Two and a Half Men, The Last Ship, and Hart of Dixie, but fans of You, a.k.a., one of the best Netflix series, will immediately recognize him from his portrayal of Cary Conrad. Over the years, the actor has also popped up in movies like Transformers, Last Call, and the 2009 Friday the 13th remake. 

You can watch all of FUBAR, along with scores of other great TV shows and movies, right now with your Netflix subscription. And if you want to see what’s on the horizon for the streaming service (and various other channels), take a look at our 2023 TV schedule.

Stream FUBAR on Netflix.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched The Last of Us up to and through its latest episode (which is just the series premiere at the moment), so be warned!

Based on Naughty Dog’s bestselling and critically adored video game series, HBO’s The Last of Us is one of the most ambitious adaptations of its kind, and is already destined for legend status in that respect. As many years of failed attempts have proven, bringing any kind of video game into the realm of live-action can be wildly challenging, usually due to unfamiliar creative teams. Thankfully, The Last of Us boasts avid fan Craig Mazin and the source material’s co-writer and director Neil Druckmann as its showrunners, making every game-to-TV change that much more important and intentional. And there are definitely some big and bold changes to look out for.

The Last of Us, unlike a lot of forgettable video game adaptations, doesn’t approach fidelity and faithfulness with an all-or-nothing attitude. Instead, the well-reviewed new series wisely brings to life the moments that made gamers lose their damn minds, while expanding upon elements that wouldn’t have been possible in the PlayStation series. Below, we’re taking a look at the biggest and most notable differences between HBO’s The Last of Us and its award-winning predecessor, with the understanding that many of the more minor and expected changes — such as Ellie and Tess being introduced from their own points of view, or the lowered threshold for violence — aren’t necessarily going to be included.

The Last Of Us Episode 1: "When You're Lost In The Darkness"

Here are the biggest alterations, additions, and differences from Episode 1, “When You’re Lost in the Darkness.”

The 1968 Flashback

Without title menus and load screens to worry about, HBO’s Last of Us starts off with a big change-up, and one that calls to mind the real-world dangers radiating throughout Craig Mazin’s accolade-laden Chernobyl. The video game didn’t have any foreshadowing Dick Cavett Show-esque segments, but viewers were all the better for it, thanks in large part to John Hannah’s dense and gripping explanation for humanity’s eventual crumbling. Even though we know it’s all going to shit in the TV show’s future, this opener is arguably the most chilling scene in the series premiere, since it’s not that far — [hears clicks in the distance] — from our reality. 

Sarah And Joel’s Expanded Introduction

The Last of Us’ second flashback, which introduces lead cast members Pedro Pascal’s Joel and Nico Parker’s Sarah, rather necessarily concludes in the same tragic way as it went in the source material, since the teen’s death so heavily informs the grieving father’s relationship with Bella Ramsey’s co-protagonist Ellie. But Neil Druckmann & Co. were oh-so-thankfully able to stretch out the game’s already effective (if understandably truncated) opening, to build their connection up and eventually amplify the harrowing impact of her execution as shit hit the fan throughout Austin. As well, the HBO series brought in the doomed neighbors the Adlers, and it was a frightful delight to watch them as the series’ first infected characters. 

Joel’s Hunt For Tommy

Though the TV show hits the main notes of the game’s “Joel and Tess track down the villainous Robert” arc, the motivation behind it is completely different. Rather than trying to secure a cadre of weapons, as it went in the original story, Joel and Tess were using Robert to access a working car battery, so that Joel could track down his brother Tommy, as portrayed by Gabriel Luna. A brotherly reunion is also a goal within the game, but under differing circumstances that haven’t played out in the TV show yet. Here, Tommy and Joel are apparently in constant contact, as opposed to their more estranged digital counterparts, and a sudden lapse in communication sparks Joel’s need to travel to Cody, Wyoming, though Robert’s double-crossing doesn’t exactly help things.

The First Reference To Riley

Though Storm Reid’s live-action iteration doesn’t appear in person in the series premiere, the character Riley does get name-checked in The Last of Us’ premiere. As not to spoil things for those who aren’t familiar, suffice to say Riley is quite important to Ellie’s story prior to meeting Marlene, as she was first introduced in the limited comic book series The Last of Us: American Dreams before her arrival in the DLC release Left Behind. As such, Ellie’s taken-aback reaction was completely justified after Marlene asked if she considered Riley to be a terrorist, though viewers will have to wait and see exactly why that is.

The Last Of Us Episode 2: "Infected"

Here are the biggest alterations, additions, and differences from Episode 2, “Infected.”

Dr. Ratna Figuring Everything Out

Similar to how The Last of Us’ series premiere kicked off with an ominous flashback foreshadowing a potential world-gutting outbreak, Episode 102 opened with another exposition-filled cold open that was completely absent from the source material, hinging on Christine Hakim’s mycologist Dr. Ratna. While the game intentionally kept a lot of the Cordyceps origins a mystery, the HBO series specifically traced it all back to a flour factory in Jakarta, where a female worker was killed after brutally attacking her unaccounted-for colleagues. Ratna, after discovering the fungal changes in the body, Ratna wasted little time advising that the entire city needed to be bombed in an effort to contain the mutations. Though we all know how that turned out.

Cordyceps' Long-Distance Connections

As a way to keep the live-action series more invested in humanity’s survival as a whole, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann managed to make the infectious fungi even more threatening with a detail rooted in real science. The TV show’s take on Cordyceps is a hive-minded organism that can maintain cellular communication across far distances without direct physical connections, allowing for the adaptation to maintain Clickers and other infected beings as the core villains, as it were, rather than going with the game’s use of militant soldiers. 

The Way Tess Sacrificed Herself

The Last of Us’ TV show stuck with the game’s second major character death, though while spinning the details in a way that made Tess’ sacrifice all the more disturbing. Things play out largely the same when it comes to discovering the firefly rendezvous point had been sabotaged, leading a panicked Tess to reveal she’d been bitten during the freaky Clicker scuffle in the museum. But rather than having her blow up a group of humans offscreen in order to give Joel and Ellie more time to escape, the TV series’ aforementioned changes meant viewers had a front-row seat for Tess’ final moments, which included a haunting AF moment of twisted affection as one of the infected gave her a final “kiss” before she blew them all to smithereens.

The Last Of Us Episode 3: "Long, Long Time"

Here are the biggest alterations, additions, and differences from Episode 3, "Long, Long Time.”

Ellie Studying And Killing An Infected

While Ellie is definitely a smart and crafty character in The Last of Us video game, she isn’t necessarily the most curious person in the world when it comes to the infected. At least beyond the initial curiosity: “Can I have a gun to shoot them?” In Episode 3, “Long, Long Time,” Bella Ramsey’s teen survivor shared a private moment with one of the creatures that’d been mostly crushed beneath building rubble. And in a move that stood apart from her game counterpart, Ellie cut the infected’s skin open and looked at the totally non-human business going on beneath. She seemed to go through a few beats of consideration before jabbing her blade into its skull, perhaps thinking about how different she now is from everyone (and everything) else in the world. Which then led to her inquiring about it to Joel, giving us another big game change-up.

Joel’s Explanation For The Outbreak’s Origins

Serving as something of a bookend for the second episode’s Indonesia-set cold open, an early sequence in Episode 103 featured Pedro Pascal’s Joel giving Ellie a clinical explanation for the way it all went down on the days that surrounded September 26, 2003, though without tapping into his own painful experience at the time. Joel further confirmed that it was contaminated foods such as flour and sugar that were shipped out from the doom-laden factory in Jakarta, leading to people falling sick and biting others. Ellie was thankful that he told her. (She was probably less happy to see the mass grave of non-infected victims, though.) 

Bill’s Early Days After The Outbreak 

When Bill enters the video game, he’s presented almost entirely as a curmudgeonly doomsday prepper with zero appreciation for the company of others, and all without hinting very hard at what his backstory entailed. Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann made the decision to go in the completely opposite direction with Nick Offerman’s iteration of the character, however, helping to boost “Long, Long Time” into instant Best Episode Ever conversations. The ep smoothly jumped from Joel’s tale to the 2003 flashback evacuation in order to hone in on the basement-dwelling Bill hiding out and avoiding detection. It was all a bit hard to believe that BIll was the ONLY person in town to successfully nail that plan, but still made it easy to root for him while looting abandoned Home Depots and turning the area into a bonafide safe haven.

Bill And Frank’s Entire Love Story

As gamers are aware, Frank’s appearance is as maudlin as can be, with players discovering his hanging and lifeless body, as well as a nearby suicide note with a big ol’ F-bomb aimed in Bill’s direction. A subtle and indirect implication pointed to something more than just platonic friendship having transpired between the two, and that it ended irreparably. Thankfully, the HBO series spun all that anger and frustration into a heart-swelling and non-horrific love story that just so happens to be set in a monster-filled post-apocalypse where Linda Ronstadt’s musical career is 100% canon. While the TV show does technically maintain the concept of Frank being in charge of how his life would end, it was due to terminal illness in the adaptation, and audiences were left to believe that Bill chose to end things alongside his lover, as opposed to maintaining his still-living status from the games. (That said, I have my suspicions.)

The Last Of Us Episode 4: "Please Hold to My Hand"

Here are the biggest alterations, additions, and differences from Episode 4, “Please Hold to My Hand.”

Kansas City Used In Place Of Pittsburgh

The ambush on Joel and Ellie’s truck, which took an emotional toll on viewers for them to get in the third ep, shifted locations for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s characters from the video game. The source material had them passing through Pittsburgh at this point of the story, but Episode 4’s early focus on road-tripping to Wyoming provided a pre-explanation for why the live-action iterations were a bit further on in their journey, putting them in Kansas City. After seeing the faithfully recreated TV locations in earlier episodes, this swap-out provided for some dramatically different exterior visuals. 

Kathleen's Existence

The video game’s Pittsburgh arc involved a lethally hostile group dubbed the Hunters, who were a fairly simplistic batch of sadists who tracked down and brutalized any “tourists” who’d dare wander into their territory. The TV show’s flip to K.C. also included the introduction of Melanie Lynskey’s Kathleen, the leader of what appears to be a slightly less erratic and bloodthirsty version of the Hunters; and a leader still grieving a brother who was apparently beaten to death. (The scrawled appearance of the word “Run” is a direct reference.) As Joel explained it to Ellie in both versions of The Last of Us, hunters were the status quo for late-stage quarantine zone populations, but Kathleen’s prominence as a leader stands out from the group-based mayhem of the games.

Ellie’s First Kill

In the HBO episode’s ambush, Joel is mini-ambushed by one of the Hunters, who has the protagonist pinned down at on the brink of suffocating when Ellie brandishes her clandestine sidearm and shoots the threat, with Joel finishing the job soon after (as the dude screamed out pathetically). In trying to bring out his fatherly skills to soothe any particular trauma that may be festering within Ellie, she dropped both his and gamers’ jaws a bit by revealing she’d killed someone before. She didn’t explain the details yet, but made it clear there was indeed trauma invested in whatever happened. 

This is a particularly surprising change for the TV show to make, given that Ellie’s first kill in the video game was saving Joel’s life as his head was being held underwater. It was a powerful moment as Joel achieved full awareness of what had transpired, and what she’d done to save his life. (And he immediately gave her shit for it.) Changing that detail would seemingly mute some of their relationship’s impact later in the story, but I can only guess that Ellie’s first kill will now factor into her backstory with Riley.

Henry's Backstory

Without getting into game spoilers, suffice to say that the characters Joel and Ellie get friendliest with following Tess’ death are a pair of brothers named Henry and Sam (voiced respectively by Brandon Scott and Nadji Jeter). Their backstory isn’t particularly deep or interesting in game form, and is most memorable for their familial bond in relation to Joel and Ellie’s growing bond. But that’s changing up for their live-action transitions, with Lamar Johnson’s Henry being revealed in Episode 4 to have fled Kathleen’s group, whose members have been tasked with hunting him down. 

Kathleen thinks he’s responsible for killing the people that Joel killed in self-defense, and that he spread the word about her brother (to FEDRA?), and that he’s capable of gathering like-minded “collaborators.” So this version of Henry seems to be something more of a rabble-rouser than the game version. But we have yet to actually see him at this point, with only Keivonn Woodard’s Sam appearing at the very end of the ep.

HBO is obviously no stranger to big-budget adaptations, considering it’s the home of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, but Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have already addressed the fact that, whatever changes may come to the TV series, they won’t go the GoT route of extending storylines out and bypassing the source material. They’re locked into bringing the show to an ending sooner rather than later, but that won’t be happening for a while yet, with Season 2 already getting confirmed.

Check back each week for updates, as The Last of Us airs new episodes on HBO every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET, and streams at the same time for those with HBO Max subscriptions. 

Back in March 2020, I was stunned at seeing the news that HBO was developing a series based on The Last of Us, one of my all-time favorite video games. At first, I was happy but couldn't believe it. Now here we are, and Season 1 has come to an end and received amazing reviews and is already on track for The Last of Us Season 2. 

With Season 1 all done, the cast has truly impressed and shown off in more ways than one. After the legendary first season, and in anticipation of Season 2, let’s break down the cast of The Last of Us, including those who appeared in Season 1, and whether or not we expect to see them in Season 2, as well as the new cast additions to the series. 

Also – minor spoiler warning for those who aren’t caught up with The Last of Us Season 1!

Pedro Pascal (Joel, Season 1-)

First up is Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel in The Last of Us, the rough and tough survivor of the apocalypse who is assigned to get Ellie across the country to a facility because of her immunity to the virus that's decimated the population. Since Pedro Pascal is the star of the show, he is very much going to be in Season 2.

Pascal is known for plenty of big shows and movies, but some of his biggest have been the Disney+ original show, The Mandalorian, and in 2022 , co-starring in the hilarious comedy, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, alongside Nicolas Cage. He was also a part of the Game of Thrones cast for a bit during Season 4, where he played Prince Oberyn Martell. 

Bella Ramsey (Ellie, Season 1-)

You can’t have Joel without Ellie in The Last of Us, and playing the spunky fourteen-year-old is Bella Ramsey, who really made the role her own in Season 1 of the series. Ramsey will be back for Season 2 of the series, as even the creators of the series have put to rest the idea of her getting re-casted since Season 2 is most likely going to feature a time-jump that was used in the games.

The young actress has already appeared on HBO before as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, as well as in His Dark Materials, and is continuing to show just how brilliant she is as an actress going forward in her young life. 

Gabriel Luna (Tommy, Season 1-)

Playing Joel’s brother and a former soldier, Tommy, in The Last of Us is Gabriel Luna. Tommy wasn’t featured that much in the first season of the show, but he most certainly played a major part in Joel’s story. And since Joel and Ellie were heading back to Tommy’s base in Jackson at the end of Season 1, it would make sense to expect Luna to return for Season 2. 

The actor has been in many TV shows before, with one of his biggest roles being in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where he played Ghost Rider/Robbie Reyes. Luna was also in the films Matador, and Terminator: Dark Fate.  

Rutina Wesley (Maria, Season 1-)

Playing Maria in The Last of Us Season 1 is Rutina Wesley, the wife of Tommy and one of the leaders of the Jackson Safe Zone, where Ellie and Joel are heading to in the finale of Season 1.  Since Maria was pregnant when Joel and Ellie left Jackson the first time, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see her there with a child alongside Tommy when Joel and Ellie return. So I’d say it’s a safe bet to expect her to return in Season 2. 

Wesley has been in a variety of television shows before, including the main cast of True Blood, The Cleveland Show, Arrow, Queen Sugar and Hannibal. Wesley also appeared in movies such as How She Move, 13 Sings, Last Weekend, The Perfect Guy and Outsiders.  

Kaitlyn Dever (Abby, Season 2-)

Variety confirmed in January 2024 that Kaitlyn Dever was cast as Abby, another playable character in The Last of Us: Part 2. Many fans have wondered for years about who would play the iconic character. Dever has a lot of people watching her when it comes to the role of Abby, but I have hope she’ll rock it. 

The actress has appeared in shows such as Last Man, Dopesick, Unbelievable and more, as well as appeared in films like Detroit, Dear Evan Hansen, Booksmart and many more. 

Isabela Merced (Dina, Season 2-)

According to Variety, in early January 2024, it was announced that Isabela Merced was cast as Dina, the love interest of Ellie’s in The Last of Us: Part 2. This is another great LGBTQ+ relationship that the show will get into as Season 2 goes on.

Merced in 2024 was a part of the Madame Web cast, but she's also appeared in films such as Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Sweet Girl, Instant Family and more. She’s also set to star in the upcoming John Greene adaptation, Turtles All The Way Down. 

Young Mazino (Jesse, Season 2-)

It was also announced in early January, according to Variety, that Young Mazino was cast as Jesse, another main character of The Last of Us: Part 2. Jesse is a friend of Ellie’s and ex-boyfriend of Dina’s in the game. 

Mazino gained fame in 2023 for his role in the Netflix series, Beef, but he has also appeared in shows such as Blue Bloods, New Amsterdam and more. 

Catherine O’Hara (Season 2-)

In February 2024, it was confirmed by Variety that Cathrine O’Hara was cast in The Last of Us Season 2 by Variety. We still don’t know what her role will be, but we can theorize on who until it's officially announced. 

O’Hara has been in the industry for years, appearing in the original Home Alone films, Beetlejuice, For Your Consideration, After Hours and many more. Most modern-day lovers of the actress probably recognize her from her time as one of the stars of the Schitt’s Creek cast. Truly an icon – and a great addition to this list. 

Danny Ramirez (Manny, Season 2-)

In March 2024, Variety reported several other stars that had joined The Last of Us Season 2. The first was Danny Ramirez, who will play Manny, a friend of Abby’s, in the second season.

Ramirez has appeared in shows like On My Block and The Gifted, and even held a main role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier cast. He also appeared in the Top Gun: Maverick cast in 2022. 

Ariela Barer (Mel, Season 2-)

Ariela Barer was also reported by Variety, and she’ll play Mel in Season 2 of The Last of Us. Mel is another friend of Abby’s in the game, and is said to be a doctor in the upcoming installment. 

Barer is primarily known for her role as Gert on Runaways, but she has appeared in various other television shows including Rebel, One Day at a Time, Atypical, Saved by the Bell and many more. 

Tati Gabrielle (Nora, Season 2-)

Tati Gabrielle was the third actress Variety reported on, and she will play Nora in Season 2 of The Last of Us. Nora is a military medic in the show, and has her own issues from her past that she is dealing with. 

Gabrielle has appeared in various TV shows, most notably You Season 4, where she played Marienne, and in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina cast. She also held a role in the great CW show, The 100, and appeared in Kaleidoscope. 

Spencer Lord (Owen, Season 2-)

Last but not least from that Variety article, we know that Spencer Lord will play Owen, a warrior who has a “gentle soul.” Lord has appeared in shows such as Family Law, The Good Doctor, Heartland and more. 

Nico Parker (Sarah, Season 1)

Sarah is Joel’s young daughter in The Last of Us, and she was played by Nico Parker, however, Sarah is not expected in Season 2. The young actress has appeared in movies like Dumbo and Reminiscence, and also had the part of Ellie in the TV series, The Third Day. 

Nick Offerman (Bill, Season 1)

One half of a survival duo living in a small, isolated town is Bill, a hardened survivor who really knows how to stay alive in this world by setting traps. Nick Offerman plays Bill in The Last of Us, and really made Bill’s story that much better alongside his partner, Frank. Bill is not expected to be in Season 2. 

Offerman is primarily known for his role as Ron Swanson in the Parks and Recreation cast, but he’s done plenty of other great work, including having a major role in the Pam & Tommy cast, working on the sci-fi series, Devs, and more. 

Merle Dandridge (Marlene, Season 1)

Next up, we have Merle Dandridge, who plays Marlene, the Firefly resistance leader in The Last of Us. Merle Dandridge actually did the voice and motion-capture work for Marlene in the original The Last of Us video game, so it’s sick to see her return to the role in the TV adaptation. However, Dandridge is not expected to be in Season 2.

But, besides her video game work, Dandridge has appeared in many TV shows like Station 19, the fantastic HBO Max original, The Flight Attendant, Sons of Anarchy, and more.  

Anna Torv (Tess, Season 1)

Tess is another survivor and a smuggler alongside Joel in The Last of Us, and she's played by Anna Torv in the TV series. Tess is not expected to be in Season 2.

Torv is primarily known for her role as Olivia Dunham on the popular sci-fi series, Fringe, and also had a main role as Wendy Carr on the amazing Netflix series you should definitely binge, Mindhunter. She also had a main role as Harriet Dunkley in Secret City. 

Murray Bartlett (Frank, Season 1)

Frank is the other half of the survival duo in The Last of Us with Bill who lives in that isolated town, and he is played by Murray Bartlett. Frank is not expected to be in Season 2.

Bartlett is among the cast of The White Lotus Season 1, and in the revival on Netflix of Tales of the City. Bartlett also played Vinnie Green in the Apple TV+ series, Physical. 

Storm Reid (Riley, Season 1)

Next up on the list for The Last of Us cast is Storm Reid, a young actress who is really making her name in Hollywood recently. In Season 1, Reid played Riley, Ellie’s best friend from before she was bit. Riley is not expected to be in Season 2. We could see her in another possible flashback but I doubt that will happen. 

Reid is mainly known for her part in the Euphoria cast as Rue’s younger sister, Gia, but she’s done plenty of other work, too. Some of her biggest roles so far have been in Don’t Let Go, The Invisible Man, and she had a major part in When They See Us on Netflix, as well as a smaller role in The Suicide Squad. She was also the star of the movie, A Wrinkle in Time.  

Melanie Lynskey (Kathleen, Season 1)

Melanie Lynskey plays Kathleen in Season 1 of The Last of Us, the brutal leader of a revolutionary movement in Kansas City and someone who was on the hunt for Henry and Sam. Her character, Kathleen, is not expected to be in Season 2.

Lynskey is known for many roles prior to this show, including her big part in the hit sitcom, Two and a Half Men, as Rose, as well as her starring role in the Showtime series, Yellowjackets, but it was even cooler to see her in this show as well. Lynksey also had roles in movies such as Sweet Home Alabama, But I’m A Cheerleader, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Don’t Look Up, The Intervention and more. 

Jeffrey Pierce (Perry, Season 1)

Next up, we have Perry, Kathleen’s right-hand man, in The Last of Us, who is played by Jeffrey Pierce. Originally, Pierce actually portrayed Tommy in the original game, but in Season 1 of The Last of Us, he had the recurring role of Perry for a couple of episodes. Perry is not expected to be in Season 2 of The Last of Us. 

Pierce has done plenty in Hollywood besides his voice-acting skills, appearing in many shows such as Drop Dead Diva, Castle, Castle Rock, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and more. 

Lamar Johnson (Henry, Season 1)

Moving on, we have Lamar Johnson, who plays Henry in Season 1 of The Last of Us, a survivor that Joel and Ellie meet out on the road when he and his brother, Sam, are hiding from a revolutionary movement in Kansas City. Henry is not expected to be in Season 2.

Johnson has appeared in a few films that you might recognize him from, such as Dark Phoenix, All the Bright Places, and Brother. He also had a main role in The Next Step as West, and appeared in the great Showtime series, Your Honor. Henry is not expected to be in Season 2.

Keivonn Woodard (Sam, Season 1)

Next up, we have the little brother of Henry, named Sam, in The Last Of Us. The character is not expected to appear in Season 2.

Keivonn Woodard is relatively new to Hollywood, and has only had one appearance prior to his role in The Last of Us, in the film Seeds of Hope: The Andrew Foster Story. But, hopefully, after The Last Of Us, we’ll get to see even more of him. 

Ashley Johnson (Anna)

For those who have never played the original game, Ashley Johnson is actually the voice and motion-capture of Ellie in both games, and has become a huge fan-favorite – so I was quite happy she appeared in  The Last of Us TV show as Anna, otherwise known as Ellie’s mother in the games.However, the character is not expect to appear in Season 2.

Johnson has appeared in several movies as well, including The Help, What Women Want and Much Ado About Nothing, but has also appeared in many television shows such as Growing Pains, Critical Role, Blindspot and more. She’s also a voice actress and has done work for shows like Teen Titans and Recess. 

Scott Shepherd (David, Season 1)

Next up, we have Scott Shepherd, who played David  in The Last of Us. David was quite a memorable face in both the movies and television show, and Scott Shepherd killed it in the role. David is not expected to be in Season 2.

Scott Shepherd has appeared in movies such as And So It Goes, the X-Men film, Dark Phoenix, First Cow, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Radium Girls, and more. He’s also had roles in television shows such as The Young Pope, True Detective, Wormwood and Bluff City Law, among others. 

Troy Baker (James, Season 1)

Troy Baker is another familiar face for fans of the franchise. He was the voice and motion-capture behind Joel in the video game. While Pedro Pascal plays Joel in the series, Baker appears in The Last of Us TV show in the role of James, one of David’s men out in the woods. He is not expected to appear in Season 2.

Baker is known a lot for his voice roles and being able to portray so many different characters, from Samuel Drake in the Uncharted franchise, to Delsin Rowe in Infamous Sons, all the way to Higgs Monaghan in Death Stranding and voicing even superheroes like Batman and Hawkeye. He’s even done voice-dubs for popular anime like Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist. You’ll most likely recognize his brilliant voice-acting before anything else since that’s what he’s predominantly known for. 

Season 2 is on the way, and with these new cast members, I’m even more excited. I don’t want to have to wait for too long or I just might lose my mind and become a clicker. 

Things have been relatively quiet when it comes to Netflix's still-untitled spy series, which is set to be headlined by action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger. Though there have been few updates since the show was announced in 2020, Schwarzenegger has still been hyping up his new show during Yellowstone viewings. And now, TV watchers are sure to be very pumped, as it's been reported that notable names from beloved shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Office will be joining the Terminator actor on the production.

This marks the action star’s first significant live-action TV role since his pre-Conan the Barbarian acting days, and it appears he'll be surrounded by some top-notch comedic and dramatic talent. Variety reports that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Ghost Rider actor Gabriel Luna, The Office’s Andy Buckley, and How to Train Your Dragon’s Jay Baruchel have been tapped as series regulars. The stars will be joined by Aparna Brielle, Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Barbara Eve Harris, Fabiana Udenio, and Travis Van Winkle. Also, Devon Bostick, David Chinchilla, Rachel Lynch, Stephanie Sy, and Scott Thompson will appear in recurring roles in the series.

The show follows father Luke (played by the Twins icon) and his daughter, Emma (portrayed by Top Gun: Maverick star Monica Barbaro), who learn that they've both been working as CIA operatives for years without the other knowing.  The series will see the father and daughter deal with the life-changing reveals while continuing with their espionage work.

A portion of the newly revealed characters are associated with the father and daughter's professional lives. Aparna Brielle,  Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Barbara Eve Harris, and Travis Van Winkle will play members of the duo’s CIA family. Harris will play their intimidating regional CIA director, Dot, who also oversees Brielle’s young and capable NSA analyst, Tina, Feimster’s snarky CIA officer, Roo, and Van Winkle’s sweet-natured CIA officer, Aldon. Another office under her watch will be Luke’s close and mysterious confidant, Barry, played by Milan Carter. Scott Thompson also stars as Luke and Emma’s psychologist, Dr. Louis Pfeffer, who attempts to help them mend their relationship.

On the personal front, Fabiana Udenio will play Luke's ex-wife, Tally, who’s completely in the dark about her daughter and former hubby's exploits, and Andy Buckley plays her easy-going boyfriend Donnie, who suspects there are still sparks between the exes. Meanwhile, Jay Baruchel is set to play Emma’s sweet kindergarten teacher boyfriend Carter, who slowly learns about his lady’s spy life. Devon Bostick will star as Luke and Tally’s app-developing son, Oscar, with Stephanie Sy and Rachel Lynch playing his wife Sandy and daughter Romi, respectively.

And Gabriel Luna will provide an antagonist for the two lead characters in the form of the Oxford-educated arms dealer Boro. The villain will be joined by his intimidating sidekick, Cain Khan, played by David Chinchilla. So all in all, this project has assembled quite a roster of talent.

One would think that Netflix has quite a bit of confidence in the upcoming series, based on the sheer amount of talent it's recruited. The premise sounds exciting and the characters all seem interesting in their own respects. Hopefully, the pieces come together so that Arnold Schwarzenegger's first major TV show is indeed an exciting piece of work.

A release window has yet to be announced for the show but, regardless, you'll want to be sure you have a Netflix subscription so that you can watch when it arrives.  In the meantime, you can check out some of the best shows on Netflix right now. And of course, here are other new and returning shows premiering in 2022.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. made quite an impression during its seven-season run on ABC. The show received praise for a number of elements, including its cast, story arcs and visual effects. The series was also lauded for the various Marvel characters it introduced, one of which was the Robbie Reyes incarnation of Ghost Rider. The antihero was played perfectly by Gabriel Luna, which made it all the more disappointing when the character’s solo series was scrapped. Now, the star is sharing thoughts on whether he’d still be game to return to the role. 

The Last of Us actor first appeared as the Spirit of Vengeance during the fourth season, which marked a bit of a tonal shift for the superhero series. After being at the center of the season’s first arc, the character disappeared but would eventually appear one last time in the season finale. Gabriel Luna recently reflected on his casting and his time on the show, among others and, during the discussion, he shared some honest thoughts on whether he’d reprise the role at some point in the future: 

Based on his comments to ComicBook.com, it sounds like the actor would be interested in playing Robbie Reyes again. One can, however, understand the conditions he would have regarding such a return. Though playing the character again would certainly be exciting for him, he’d likely want to take the supernatural defender to new places. 

Gabriel Luna first spoke on the possibility of a Ghost Rider spinoff back in 2016 and, in May 2019, he and Hulu confirmed that the show was officially in development. It was revealed, however, that the series would have no ties to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. aside from the lead character himself. Unfortunately, by September of that same year, it was reported that the streamer was no longer moving forward with the project, resulting in a disappointed reaction from Luna. A few months after that news broke, the actor attributed the development to the corporate changes that were occurring at Marvel Television at the time. 

With Marvel Studios now overseeing work on all of the company’s small-screen productions, any revived project would theoretically be overseen by Kevin Feige and co. and exist within the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper. The studio has not given any indication as to whether it has plans for any incarnation of Ghost Rider. But considering that the company is aiming to bring Blade and other supernatural characters into the franchise, the rider could arrive sooner rather than later.

Whether or not Gabriel Luna will be the one sporting the flaming skull remains to be seen. Still, it seems the actor is, at the very least, content with being a fan of all things Marvel. And who knows, maybe he will get another shot at the character down the road.

All seven seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are available to stream on Netflix.

The legendary video game The Last of Us is getting a highly-anticipated TV show adaptation, coming to HBO with a cast headlined by none other than The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal. Now, the show has cast another major role, and this star comes from a Marvel history on the small screen. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Gabriel Luna is on board The Last of Us.

Gabriel Luna played Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Variety reports that he has joined The Last of Us to play Tommy, a former soldier who held onto his hope for a better world and ingrained idealism despite everything that has gone wrong. Tommy is the younger brother of Joel, who will be played by Pedro Pascal.

In addition to Pedro Pascal and now Gabriel Luna, the Last of Us stars Bella Ramsey of Game of Thrones fame to play Ellie in the young actress' return to HBO. The show centers on Pascal's Joel and Ramsey's Ellie as Joel is hired to get Ellie out of a quarantine zone, with Ellie as one of the rare individuals immune to the infection that ravaged humanity.

Joel isn't so lucky, and the job to smuggle Ellie out of quarantine gets complicated as they head out on a journey across that United States that is both heartbreaking and brutal, forced to depend on each other for survival. With Gabriel Luna portraying a character who hung onto hope and idealism, seeing the dynamic between Tommy and Joel should be interesting, as should seeing whether Tommy can hold onto that hope. There's no way things aren't going to get worse before they get better on The Last of Us, right?

The Last of Us definitely isn't Gabriel Luna's first venture into genre productions. He made an impact on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which stands as the longest-running live-action Marvel TV show to date, as Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider. He appeared in several episodes of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4, but fans started talking about him again after a certain WandaVision twist despite the Ghost Rider spinoff never moving forward. The Last of Us also isn't Luna's first post-apocalyptic project, as he starred in the 2019 film Terminator: Dark Fate.

It's not clear at this point how much of a role that Gabriel Luna will have to play on The Last of Us, but it's worth noting that the TV show will change things up from the game, so even experts on the events of The Last of Us game can't say for sure what to expect from Tommy and his relationship with Joel, among other things, even though it reportedly won't undo the original game story.

The Last of Us has been in development since March 2020, and HBO moved forward with a series order in November. There is no official word of when viewers can expect to see the video game adaptation premiere as a TV show, but the series is making enough progress that it's possible the first episode could debut in late 2021 or early 2022. HBO already has another high-profile project releasing in 2022, but I think we can be confident that The Last of Us will score plenty of viewers regardless of when the first Game of Thrones spinoff debuts.

When it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’ve all heard the phrase “It’s all connected.” This was believed to be true when it came to both TV shows and films in the franchise but, with the demise of Marvel Television, the canon status of shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was left up in the air. However, WandaVision introduced a key item from S.H.I.E.L.D. -- the Darkhold, an ancient and powerful magic artifact. The book definitely caught the attention of MCU fans when it popped up again, and S.H.I.E.L.D alum Gabriel Luna also spotted it and shared an A+ response.

WandaVision revealed that Agatha Harkness was in possession of the Darkhold, likely leading many fans to wonder how she came to have it. Well, in a recent Twitter post, Gabriel Luna (whose Ghost Rider was the last person on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to have it) offered a humorous explanation for why Harkness was able to get it. Check out his post down below:

It seems Gabriel Luna wasn’t as diligent as he could have been when trying to hide the Darkhold, but Agatha is a witch so she could have found it in a myriad of ways. All jokes aside, it’s cool to see Luna point out the major macguffin, which proves he’s definitely still a Marvel fan years after making his last appearance as Robbie Reyes.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. established that the Darkhold is a book created in the Dark Dimension and made of dark matter. The powerful book caused quite a few problems for Phil Coulson and his allies over the course of a few seasons. Ultimately though, it was Gabriel Luna’s Robbie Reyes who would take the book and leave through a portal to take it to Hell.

Interestingly enough, the book actually resurfaced on Marvel’s Runaways, in which it was used by dark enchantress Morgan le Fay to bring the Dark Dimension to Earth. Luckily, the Runaways and PRIDE teamed up and used the book to imprison Morgan in the Dark Dimension.

To be completely honest, it’s not entirely clear if WandaVision’s Darkhold is the same one viewers saw on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Runaways. There is still, however, always the chance the book is the same and its appearance on WandaVision is a way to further connect the continuity. Only time will tell, I suppose.

The Darkhold is currently in the possession of Wanda Maximoff who is now officially the Scarlet Witch. With this, the artifact could continue to play a massive role in the MCU moving forward. And with any luck, maybe Gabriel Luna’s Ghost Rider will return and get his hands on the book again at some point.

If you’re aiming to learn more about the Darkhold, you can stream Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on Netflix. Meanwhile, WandaVision and Marvel’s Runaways are both available to stream on Disney+.

Fans of ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. were pleasantly surprised when word came down that the Marvel series was bringing Ghost Rider, in the form of Robbie Reyes, to the show in Season 4. And, while actor Gabriel Luna's time on the long-running comic book show was relatively short-lived, fans loved his take on the character, who had only traded his soul to help protect his brother after a street race went wrong.

The powers that be quickly noticed how beloved Gabriel Luna was in the role, and while it took about two years from the time fans last saw Luna's Ghost Rider on S.H.I.E.L.D., Hulu set out to make a show that would focus on him as the flame-skulled Spirit of Vengeance. Ghost Rider's announcement back in May 2019 was met with just as much positive reception as Luna's time on S.H.I.E.L.D., and while the creative wheels were clearly turning on the show, it was cancelled by late September. Now, Luna has spoken out about what happened.

Awww. As you can probably imagine, it sounds a lot like Gabriel Luna is just as bummed as the fans are that Ghost Rider won't be happening. While he doesn't pinpoint what all the changes were that he spoke of in his words to ComicBook, when the show was cancelled there was word of trouble behind the scenes.

Stephen Lightfoot (The Punisher, Hannibal) was on board as executive producer / showrunner, while Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb and Paul Zbyszewski (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) were also set to executive produce. Unfortunately, it sounds like Hulu was getting into arguments over the creative direction of the series with those leading the way, and reported reaching a “creative impasse” that led them to cancel Ghost Rider rather than continue trying to work things out.

Gabriel Luna was understandably pumped for Ghost Rider, and was already doing his part to keep fans excited for the project. It was due to hit Hulu at some point in 2020, so it makes sense that sets were being constructed and scripts were being written over this past summer, but it sounds like Hulu was simply not on board with the content of those scripts.

For instance, we had been told that, even though Luna was reprising the role, the version of Robbie that he would have played in his solo series was going to be different and unconnected from the one we saw on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. This, of course, brought up questions of how two physically identical versions of the character could co-exist in the Marvel TV universe, and whether or not it meant that the Hulu version of the character actually wouldn't, officially, be in the MCU.

Unfortunate as it is, it sounds a lot like the creative team of Ghost Rider and Hulu hadn't worked out enough of these details before announcing the series. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will air its seventh and final season in mid-2020, so maybe just keep hope alive for a Gabriel Luna / Ghost Rider appearance at some point during that show's final run.

A very big deal has been made out of how Terminator: Dark Fate is Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton’s first time working together since 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day – but not to be forgotten is the other person who was instrumental in the return of this franchise: writer/producer James Cameron.

Given that Cameron left the Terminator franchise before the making of the last three titles, the reunion between the killer robot movies and the blockbuster, Oscar-winning director is definitely exciting. But what kind of impact did he really have on the making of Terminator: Dark Fate? That was a question I posed to the stars of the movie at the new film’s recent Los Angeles press day, and you can watch their responses clicking play on the video below:

Similar to his role in the making of Alita: Battle Angel prior to its release earlier this year, James Cameron didn’t actually spend any real time on the set of Terminator: Dark Fate, but he was an instrumental force both in terms of getting the film made, and getting it made with a specific vision in mind. Curious about his impact on set, I asked Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Gabriel Luna about the influence Cameron had, and they made it clear that it was significant.

In Linda Hamilton’s case, for example, she attributes her whole entire involvement with the project being because of James Cameron’s presence, not to mention his massive contributions in terms of figuring out who Sarah Connor was going to be at the start of this new story. Discussing the writer/producer’s larger part with the Terminator: Dark Fate production, she explained,

Arnold Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, was in a different position, having been a significant part of two of the last three James Cameron-less Terminator releases. All the same, he gives James Cameron all of the credit in the world for the making of the latest chapter, as he noted that Dark Fate probably wouldn’t have come together if it weren’t for his key suggestions and input:

As noted by Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron hasn’t exactly just been sitting on his hands recently, as he’s been extremely busy putting together not just one Avatar sequel, but multiple releases that are set to come out over the next six years. That certainly contributed to his more hands-off approach during the production of Terminator: Dark Fate (along with wanting to give director Tim Miller creative space), but as the star explained, there is no questioning his significant role in the making of the new blockbuster.

Very much echoing ideas and themes from the original Terminator movies, Terminator: Dark Fate is certainly a film that carries the artistic power of James Cameron in its soul – and the time has almost come for you to see it yourself. Following its release abroad earlier this month, the new feature is now hitting theaters in the states, and will be available everywhere starting on Friday. Check it out, and be on the lookout for more from my interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Gabriel Luna, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, and Tim Miller here on CinemaBlend.

Surely there are many reasons why an actor would be excited to be a part of a new Terminator movie, but for Gabriel Luna there was definitely one particular aspect that stuck out: the chance to do scenes with franchise star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Fortunately for him, he got such an opportunity in the making of Terminator: Dark Fate – even getting to go toe-to-toe with him in a major fight sequence… but what makes the story extra special is that the young actor filmed that notable sequence while unknowingly having two fractured ribs.

Terminator: Dark Fate held its domestic press day in Los Angeles this past weekend, and it was while sitting down with Gabriel Luna that I learned about the surprise injury he brought with him into one of the most significant weeks of his acting career. I asked him what it was like filming sequences with the action legend that is Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he took he back to way before production even started, and he was counting down days until the big day:

As those with any exercise experience can attest, that kind of “pinch” can be scary. Sometimes it turns out to be absolutely nothing, just a momentary bit of pain caused by a tweaked nerve, and sometimes it can be the first indicator that something is really wrong. Of course, having read the headline and the first paragraphs of this story, you know that in this case it’s the latter.

Given the lack of clarity the “pinch” presents, the natural thing to do is wait and see if it continues to be a problem. This is the route that Gabriel Luna took, taking the “sleep on it” method, but that turned out to not fix things. And certainly not helping him at all either his part as Rev-9, a nearly unstoppable villain in Terminator: Dark Fate – meaning that most of his scenes saw him taking considerable hits. Said Luna,

When “sleep on it” failed, “play through the pain” was the mentality that took over for the actor. Gabriel Luna was being given the chance to perform scenes and do fight choreography with the star of not only Terminator, but also Predator, The Running Man, Commando, and so many others, and he was not going to delay things because his back felt tweaked.

The good news is that doing his Terminator: Dark Fate scenes with Arnold Schwarzenegger was entirely worth it, as Luna had a blast crippling with the former Governor of California, and found himself wowed by his scene partner’s continued commitment to the craft:

Having completed the work that he had been passionately anticipating, Gabriel Luna opted for some physical therapy, and it was there that he learned that what was going on with his back was much more serious that a lower back muscle strain. The actor explained,

Those are definitely not words that you ever want to hear from a masseuse, and it was a message that Gabriel Luna took to heart, and an appointment was made.

After tests were done, the Terminator: Dark Fate star got the news: two fractured ribs. That’s pretty serious and scary stuff, but as the actor explained, the situation could have been much worse:

Reflecting on that whole part of the experience, Gabriel Luna was able to smile and laugh, and the great news is that the fight sequence between the Rev-9 and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 a.k.a. Carl in Terminator: Dark Fate is excellent. He summed it up thusly:

Terminator: Dark Fate, which also stars Linda Hamilton, Natalia Reyes, Diego Boneta, and Edward Furlong, is now playing in countries around the globe, but will be arriving in theaters in North America this Friday, November 1st.

Any chance for a Ghost Rider TV series is officially off the table for the most part. Back in May, a standalone Ghost Rider series starring Gabriel Luna’s Robbie Reyes was announced as a Hulu Original, but unfortunately for fans, Hulu's execs changed their minds and decided to no longer pursue the Marvel TV project. Luna, as one might imagine, was as bummed as anyone else about it.

In an Instagram post, Gabriel Luna shared a heartfelt statement and thanked fans.

Gabriel Luna had such an immense impact on fans when he appeared in Season 4 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.as Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider. The actor was only on the show for part of one season, and his screen time was admittedly minimal, but he gave his all to the role. The last time he appeared on the ABC show, Robbie was helping the other characters get out of the Hydra-induced Framework during the Season 4 finale.

It wasn’t long after his initial appearance on S.H.I.E.L.D. that fans started calling for him to lead his own solo series, so when it was announced that Ghost Rider was finally moving forward, it felt like a win on all fronts, with more of Marvel's darker shows also entering the conversation. Sadly, those pesky creative differences emerged and stopped the potential series in its tracks. It turns out, Gabriel Luna is just as surprised about the news, especially since it wasn’t that long ago that he’d provided a positive update about the series' production status.

Sadly, the actor is mostly right about Hollywood in general. It may be a well-oiled machine, but there are so many shows that never see the light of day. In the end, Gabriel Luna was grateful for the opportunity to play Robbie for fans, even if it wasn’t for as long as he’d hoped.

You can read Gabriel Luna’s full post below.

Interestingly, Ghost Rider was picked up by Hulu instead of ABC, which is also the home of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, upon initial pick-up, it was revealed that Ghost Rider wouldn’t be connected to S.H.I.E.L.D. at all. Perhaps that made it easier to cancel.

Gabriel Luna is booked and busy, though. Even though Ghost Rider burned out in the end, Luna will next be starring in the action-packed Terminator: Dark Fate and will now focus all his energies on promoting his new movie.

And who knows? Maybe this is the chance for Gabriel Luna’s Ghost Rider to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or, better yet, get his own Disney+ series. In the meantime, you can rewatch Robbie Reyes in Season 4 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

With Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. bowing out after Season 7, Marvel TV's influence on the fandom is mostly limited to teen-focused adventures on Freeform's Cloak & Dagger and Hulu's Runaways. But that's all changing with the huge wave of new programming coming from Marvel and Hulu, with Gabriel Luna's flame-headed Ghost Rider leading the pack with his own standalone series.

Fans were surprised to learn that Ghost Rider would be heading to Hulu rather than ABC, where he was first introduced as part of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fourth season. (For now, the two shows will be completely separate.) Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb offered up some insight into how that decision came together. According to Loeb:

That makes a lot of sense, right? For the most part, Ghost Rider is a half-demon bent on revenge, with the fires of Hell behind him. Not exactly the character most likely to share a primetime schedule with black-ish and Grey's Anatomy.

On Hulu, though, there aren't nearly the same number or assortment of broadcast standards that would limit Marvel TV's storytelling abilities where Ghost Rider is concerned. Hulu has featured such dark and complicated tales as The Path, The Handmaid's Tale and The Act, each of which likely wouldn't have aired on ABC (or any other major network) in their present forms. A Ghost Rider TV show would have had a hell of a time trying to blaze past the censors and other flag-raisers.

Jeph Loeb told Deadline that the topic of Ghost Rider came up naturally enough once conversations started happening more between Hulu and Marvel TV.

A solid point through and through, considering Ghost Rider will likely hit upon some darker genre tropes that would likely be too much for ABC. The network does occasionally handle spooky programming, such as the upcoming mystery thriller Emergence, but ABC isn't so much an incubator of pure horror or terror.

Jeph Loeb spoke about how the Ghost Rider series will be one that kicks off a subsection of heroes that taps into that darker section of the Marvel Universe, which touches upon another project that's in the works for Hulu. In Loeb's words:

We're likely still a ways away from seeing what Marvel TV and Hulu have cooking in the Adventures of Fear department, but hopefully the various productions will get underway so that fans can dive into the madness sooner rather than later. In the meantime, though, there are more shows to look forward to that tap into lighter subject matter.

Marvel TV and Hulu are currently invested in a partnership that will likely go even deeper than the on that was formed at Netflix to bring the street-level Defenders heroes to live-action TV. Currently, one part of the plan will center on a host of animated series, such as Howard the Duck with Kevin Smith, M.O.D.O.K. with Patton Oswalt, Tigra and Dazzler with Chelsea Handler, and Hit-Monkey with Office Christmas Party filmmakers Josh Gordon and Will Speck.

Are you guys ready for Ghost Rider most of all, or do any of these other Marvel TV Hulu projects sound more exciting? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more from CinemaBlend.

Ghost Rider is gearing up to return! A couple of months ago, it was announced that the character would be getting his own live-action series on Hulu. One that will find Gabriel Luna playing Robbie Reyes and his alter ego, once again. Luna played him on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. during Season 4.

As fans have been anxiously awaiting the premiere of the upcoming series, Gabriel Luna has been keeping them pumped for it. Just last month, the Ghost Rider actor took to social media to share a remarkable sketch he had done on Twitter. Now, Luna is adding to the anticipation with an update on how things are progressing, telling ET:

Ghost Rider should undoubtedly fulfill that promise! Gabriel Luna’s production update gives fans a line on when they could expect the superhero back. According to Luna, they are “deep into pre-production,” which means filming has not begun quite yet. But, the new Ghost Rider television show is closer than it was before.

At first, it was thought that the series would be connected to his arc on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but news surfaced that altered that assumption. In a surprising development, it was revealed that the Hulu series’ storyline would not connect with the character’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. arc. Fans are undoubtedly curious to learn what may change about the character.

That show had created an origin story for Robbie Reyes and how he became Ghost Rider. Whatever his storyline situation, Gabriel Luna is clearly excited to be playing the character again and he expressed his enthusiasm for the Marvel hero. Speaking about him, Luna said:

I love when actors are as big a fan of their character as those who get to see them play the part. That is special. Gabriel Luna sounds like a huge fan of Ghost Rider. Hulu’s Robbie may be standing alone with the solo series, however, it seems like Luna is confident that what fans love about the character will be back.

In the Hulu series, Robbie Reyes is living on the border of Texas and Mexico. From the way the info made it sound, Robbie will already have his powers when viewers catch up with him. The struggle to control said abilities is going to be tricky for him, though.

For those hoping that a Ghost Rider television show would happen, the wait is narrowing. Gabriel Luna is clearly thrilled to return to the role, and fans are undoubtedly excited to see him take it on again.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had to stop using him for a time in Season 4, which led to the executive producer having to explain the character’s absence. He ended up returning for the season finale. It has to be a relief to know he will not be going anywhere, this time around.

Ghost Rider has not received a premiere date yet, so stay tuned. When the superhero makes his television return, it will be on Hulu. In the meantime, this summer’s premiere slate will help you with the wait.

Who knew Mark Ruffalo’s mocap pajamas would become trendsetting? The actor known best for donning the comfiest suit in the MCU has rubbed off on Terminator: Dark Fate’s Gabriel Luna who got in on posting a selfie of himself in the motion capture gear, clearly with Hulk in mind. Check it out:

This will probably be the cutest and wholesome we’ll ever see Luna, considering he’ll be the Terminator hunting down Natalia Reyes’ Dani Ramos, Makenzie Davis’ Grace, and the return of Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Conner as they team up to protect each other and the future. Luna’s Twitter post was in tribute to this one from Mark Ruffalo posted the very same day. Take a look:

Adorable! They’re mocap buds! Since Gabriel Luna has starred in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Robbie Reyes a.k.a. Ghost Rider, they technically have prominent characters together in the Marvel universe. The actor is set to star in his own live-action series for Hulu about Ghost Rider in 2020. Perhaps he’ll be using motion capture technology to portray the flaming skull as well?

Over the years playing Hulk, Mark Ruffalo has been able to witness the advancement of this technology. He used to have to act in another room for 2012’s Avengers but now he can take his mocap pajamas to set and work alongside the other actors in the same room. This method will be now used in the newest Terminator for Gabriel Luna’s character as well!

After years of disappointing films from the franchise, James Cameron has come back on board as producer for the first time since T2 to revitalize his series. Dark Fate will ignore Rise of the Machines, Salvation and Genisys and continue the storylines of Sarah and John Connor (though it’s unclear if he’s alive).

Luna’s Terminator has a cool new ability this time around: he can duplicate himself. This should prove to be a challenge for the protagonists. The actor said when he nabbed the role he didn’t have a script yet, so he spent a lot of time in front of the mirror trying to figure out how the character does things. Since Arnold Schwartznegger is also returning to the series for Dark Fate, he also received some mentorship from the original Terminator too!

Dark Fate is directed by Deadpool director Tim Miller, with a script penned by Dark Knight trilogy writer David S. Goyer, Hunger Games’ Billy Ray and Justin Rhodes. The film will come out on November 1 alongside Tom Harper’s adventure flick, Aeronauts, starring Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne.

Are you excited for Gabriel Luna’s Terminator? Let us know in the comments below.

The premiere of the upcoming Ghost Rider television show on Hulu may still be quite a bit off into the future. However, the series’ star (Gabriel Luna) is seizing the moment to go ahead and get fans pumped for the show. Why wait?

Fans have been hoping for a television show for a while. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Gabriel Luna teased a potential series back in 2016. Three years, later Ghost Rider enthusiasts are closer than ever to seeing it happen. Luna shared a picture on social media that is destined to get fans even more excited for the series to begin. Check it out below:

Gabriel Luna’s impressive Ghost Rider sketch is enough to warm the heart of any fan ready to see the highly-anticipated live-action series. It has it all! Including the signature flames emanating from Ghost Rider’s skull. I think it is a fantastic illustration. In the caption, Luna says that he is working on drawing more. Hopefully he will share future drawings too!

A couple of months ago, Marvel thrilled fans with news of a live-action Ghost Rider series on Hulu. They announced that it would star Gabriel Luna in the titular role. At first, it seemed Luna would directly reprise his role as Ghost Rider/Robbie Reyes. Luna played him during a run on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Season 4.

It turns out there is a twist. Gabriel Luna will be playing Ghost Rider and Robbie Reyes. However, the character’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. canon will reportedly not connect to the Hulu series. This will be a different take on things.

Despite having the same actor in the role, the character's stories will not be connected. Time will tell how exactly it all shakes out. It is an intriguing decision that should offer new possibilities.

The Hulu series is set to pick up with Robbie Reyes as he lives on the border of Texas and Mexico. He will apparently already have his demonic powers when the show starts. That could indicate the series may be skipping past his origin story entirely. As the story goes, Robbie Reyes flames on as Ghost Rider to seek vengeance for the innocent.

In Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s version of Robbie’s origin story, he and his brother Gabriel were caught in the crossfire of a hit intended to kill their uncle. The car they were in subsequently crashed. The wreck killed Robbie and paralyzed his brother.

That is when a different Ghost Rider showed up and gave the Spirit of Vengeance to Robbie. Thus, bringing him back to life, so he could protect Gabriel and get his revenge. Marvel’s Ghost Rider is expected to premiere at some point in 2020 on Hulu. Let summer’s television premieres haunt you in the meantime.

The Terminator first said "I'll be back" in 1984. He was right, several times over, but I can't say I expected him to still be back 35 years later. Turns out, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and franchise co-creator James Cameron are all returning for Terminator 6, also known as Terminator: Dark Fate, a direct sequel to their Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Before getting into the weeds, let's check out the first trailer, which was released mid-May 2019, right after the amazing official poster:

And now here's everything we know so far to get you up-to-speed on the 2019 film Terminator: Dark Fate...

What Is The Terminator 6 Release Date?

Terminator 6 is being directed by Tim Miller (Deadpool) and it's currently scheduled to open in theaters on November 1, 2019. That's a slight change from its previous Nov. 22, 2019 release date. The Wonder Woman sequel was going to open on Nov. 1, but moved to June 2020. At this point, Terminator: Dark Fate is poised to compete against the Charlie's Angels reboot on the first day of November. The following week in November currently holds releases for Sonic the Hedgehog and Midway. Studios love to shift titles around, but that's the lineup for now. (Update: All of those other movies have since moved, while Terminator: Dark Fate is still at Nov. 1. Guess Sarah scared them away?)

What Is The Terminator 6 Rating? 

As the sun now stands, Terminator 6 doesn't have an official rating from the MPAA. However, James Cameron confirmed to Flicks and the City that Terminator: Dark Fate will be Rated R:

That makes sense, since it's an extension of the first two movies in the franchise, and they were both Rated R. Two of the next three films in the franchise were rated PG-13, but this film is pretending those movies don't exist. Plus, director Tim Miller came to this fresh from Deadpool, which was also Rated R. He has a streak going.

What Is The Full Title Of Terminator 6?

Terminator 6 is titled Terminator: Dark Fate. 'Cause remember, kids, there's no fate but what we make for ourselves. It sounds like the working title used during filming for a while was Terminator 6: Phoenix. The Terminator Fans uncovered some posts from one of the supporting cast members, and the actor referred to the film as Terminator 6: Phoenix. There was thought, at one point, that that might be the official title. James Cameron finally said, mid-February 2019, that they were calling the film Terminator: Dark Fate. Does that suggest an unhappy ending for this film, or perhaps an alternate dark future after T2? Is that why John Connor doesn't seem to be a main character -- because his fate took a dark turn and now we need a new hero for the future?

What Is The Plot Of Terminator 6?

Paramount has yet to release an official synopsis for Terminator 6. However, James Cameron -- who directed the first two films and produced this one -- told THR the 2019 Terminator film is meant to continue the story from Terminator 1 and Terminator 2:

Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 are returning from the first two films. In February 2019, Cameron revealed that Terminator: Dark Fate will deal with how time and dealing with "these tragic futures" has changed Sarah and show her passing the torch of knowledge for all this imminent doom to new characters. Hamilton and Schwarzenegger will be joined by new stars, including Natalia Reyes as Dani and Mackenzie Davis as Grace. Grace is a super-soldier sent back to protect Dani, who is apparently very important to the future in the way Sarah Connor was in the first two Terminator movies. Both new actresses appeared with Linda Hamilton in the first official cast photo (see above), confirming the lead characters. Gabriel Luna was also cast as a new Terminator.

Sarah Connor - Linda Hamilton

Sarah Connor is back! We met her in The Terminator as the future mother of John Connor (played by Eddie Furlong in T2), eventual leader of the Resistance in the war against Skynet. But she's so much more than that. Sarah began as something of a typical damsel in distress in the 1984 film, but when she returned in 1991's classic T2, soft Sarah transformed into a muscled machine of her own. She became an action hero icon. As an adolescent when T2 came out, Sarah Connor was my hero.

Linda Hamilton was married to her Terminator director, James Cameron, and they share a daughter. He's the one who approached her about returning to this role, as he told THR:

Director Tim Miller added his excitement to see the now 62-year-old Linda Hamilton return to Sarah Connor:

Linda Hamilton's return as Sarah Connor is already being compared to Jamie Lee Curtis returning for the 2018 Halloween. That Halloween return resulted in a major win at the box office, and we'll have to see if that's the case again for Terminator: Dark Fate.

T-800 - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger, now 71, is returning to his T-800 role for this film. He shared a reunion photo with Linda Hamilton during filming, showing that his character definitely gets banged up. Last year, James Cameron talked to The Arnold Fans about the T-800, and teased some potentially interesting directions. The site had asked if Cameron had ever considered having Schwarzenegger play a human character serving as the basis for the T-800. Here's Cameron's response:

It's clear James Cameron was already thinking ahead, not just for Terminator 6, but potentially down the line for more Terminator films after this one.

Dani Ramos - Natalia Reyes

Colombian actress Natalia Reyes will play Dani Ramos, one of the new leading roles. The first photo from Terminator 6 showed Dani next to Sarah Connor and fellow newcomer Grace. Apparently Dani works at "Arius Motors," since that's the logo on her mechanic shirt. TerminatorFans posted a casting notice for this character a while back, with Dani described as an independent woman in her early 20s from Mexico City; she was brought up in a working-class neighborhood, and is more street-smart than book smart. She's a strong believer in family and always manages to find a ray of light even in the darkest circumstances.

There's speculation that Dani may anchor the Terminator franchise from here, if they do end up making more films, with Terminator: Dark Fate giving satisfying (hopefully) closure to Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger in their OG roles. This appears to be Natalia Reyes' first American role, and it's quite a debut!

Grace - Mackenzie Davis

Mackenzie Davis has another new leading role for the Terminator franchise, playing a character named Grace. The first photo from Terminator 6 -- with Sarah Connor, Dani Ramos, and Grace -- showed markings on Grace's body. She's expected to be some kind of soldier/assassin, and it's possible she's from the future, but that's still speculation at this point. Fans will know Mackenzie Davis from AMC's Halt and Catch Fire, and her roles in the films Blade Runner 2049 and The Martian. Black Mirror fans will also remember her from the Emmy-winning episode, "San Junipero."

Mackenzie Davis is one of the more high profile additions to the franchise, and certainly no stranger to sci-fi. She was also reportedly director Tim Miller's "top choice for a while" before her casting was officially announced.

Terminator - Gabriel Luna

Actor Gabriel Luna played Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider on ABC's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and now he'll play the new Terminator. A few months ago, original Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger tweeted a photo in the gym, mentoring and "machine training" Luna. So, we know Luna got ripped for the intense role. We also know his Terminator has liquid metal capabilities and can duplicate himself. That's a handy trick.

Dani's brother - Diego Boneta

Singer-actor Diego Boneta has been cast as Dani Ramos' brother. At this point, that's all we know about him, but we already know that Dani is very family oriented, so we should expect her brother to be a key part of the story. Boneta starred in the film Rock of Ages, but is arguably best known for his many TV roles on shows like Scream Queens, 90210, Pretty Little Liars, and Jane The Virgin. He also has the lead role in the TV series Luis Miguel, and several more roles in his native Mexico.

Will John Connor Return In Terminator 6?

There will surely be plenty of supporting characters, but will we see John Connor again? It doesn't sound like Edward Furlong is returning, but a photo was posted that suggests young John Connor may be back in some fashion. The photo, which you can see at Bloody-Disgusting was marked "Edward Furlong's (Jude Collie) and Arnold Schwarzenegger's (Brett Azar) CGI stand-ins in Terminator (2019). Young John Connor and the T-800 are back."

The photo shows both actors flexing together for the camera. Based on this, it sounds like we might get a CGI version of John Connor, as well as some CGI to keep the T-800's body in shape. Bloody Disgusting said Jude Collie is alleged to be playing young John Connor, but since the photo called both Collie and Brett Azar CGI stand-ins, the site speculated that we might see younger Edward Furlong's T2 face used in the film.

Will There Be A Terminator 7?

The Terminator franchise has nothing official on the books other than Terminator 6. But, somehow it always manages to come back. Based on James Cameron's comments, it sounds like this is hoped to be the start of a new trilogy. Then again, we've heard that before. There was hope that Terminator Salvation would be the start of a new trilogy, and hope that Terminator Genisys would start a new trilogy. Obviously, that did not pan out. Here's what James Cameron said in July 2017 about new plans for the future of the franchise:

Some fans think this next film needs to end the franchise, but the box office will most likely be the deciding vote. We'll see how fans feel once Terminator: Dark Fate is released along with the many other films of 2019.

We still have a while to wait until we can see everything Terminator 6 has in store for us, so be sure to bookmark this guide to stay up to date with all the new info as it becomes available!

Marvel is really pushing ahead with its television show offerings, and on the heels of news regarding upcoming Disney+ projects and Sony's Spider-Man projects, Hulu is getting in on the fun. It was previously reported that Hulu was getting a live-action Ghost Rider TV show, with Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actor Gabriel Luna set to reprise his role as the character. Now, we're learning that while Luna is involved, this show is, reportedly, in no way connected to the ABC series.

So, what's going on? Essentially, Marvel has decided to keep Gabriel Luna as its face for Robbie Reyes, but will be telling an entirely new story that's "in no way" connected to his Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. storyline. Variety reported that this is a new iteration of the character, which means things that were relevant in his adventure with S.H.I.E.L.D. might either be retconned or the details of his story completely changed.

While that part may change, we would assume the core details of Robbie Reyes will stay the same. Those details being that Robbie Reyes is a motor vehicle enthusiast who ends up dying and is later revived to become Ghost Rider. His brother Gabe will probably be involved, and unlike the Ghost Riders before him, he won’t be inhabited by the Spirit of Vengeance. Other things can always change, but it’s hard to imagine Marvel breaking from these core elements.

The decision is somewhat confusing, though, as removing the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ties presumably disconnects the live-action series from many other Marvel live-action shows. Granted, all of the ones on Netflix were cancelled, so really it only alienates this new Ghost Rider from crossovers with Cloak & Dagger and Runaways, but what happens if those other shows return? Hulu mentioned it was interested in bringing back shows like Daredevil, could this be the final sign that those shows are dead or will be headed elsewhere whenever they might be able to return?

Beyond that, other previously reported details about the series remain the same. Ingrid Escajeda is the showrunner and executive producer, and Paul Zbyszewski and Marvel TV's Jeph Loeb are also executive producers. The project is on track for a 2020 release.

Ghost Rider wasn’t the only Marvel series recently announced for Hulu, as Helstrom, which will follow the children of a powerful and mysterious serial killer as they track down the worst of humanity, will also be getting a run on the platform at well. Given these characters’ histories, it seems likely they could crossover, provided they don’t end up flopping. That doesn’t seem likely given Hulu’s interest in all things Marvel, as these two shows join the ranks of Runaways, and a heaping helping of animated projects that include Howard The Duck, Tigra & Dazzler, and more.

As mentioned, Ghost Rider is expected to arrive on Hulu in 2020. Stick with CinemaBlend in the meantime for more updates on Marvel programming, as well as a plethora of other superhero projects.

“I’ll be back.” It’s the most famous line in the Terminator franchise and has proven prophetic once again, because the franchise is returning this year with Terminator: Dark Fate. The reboot-quel from director Tim Miller brings back Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 and Linda Hamilton’s iconic Sarah Connor. They return alongside a host of new faces, including Gabriel Luna, who plays the new Terminator in the film.

Details about the plot and Gabriel Luna’s Terminator are still relatively scarce, but the actor has spoken about what he’s bringing to the role and the interesting way he prepared. He said:

When Gabriel Luna landed the role of the new Terminator in Terminator: Dark Fate, there was no script for him to prepare with, but he didn’t just chill and wait for it. He got to work doing what he could by coming up with a take on how he would approach the character. As he told Comicbook.com, that meant just staring in the mirror for an uncomfortable amount of time to work out what that looked like.

It sounds strange and very ‘actor-y’ to hear about an actor just staring in a mirror for hours on end, doing different things with his face and head to work on his character, but it makes sense, especially in lieu of a script. Although a Terminator is a robot and generally unfeeling, an actor can’t just ‘do the robot’ and be good to go. There may not be emotion in the way there is for a human character but there is an intensity and purpose that must be present in the performance.

So Gabriel Luna had to suss out how he viewed Terminators and how he could physcially convey what he needed to convey. For him, that partially meant tilting his head forward, representing the dogged nature with which these hunter/killers pursue their targets. The ‘fluidity’ bit is also interesting and we know that Gabriel Luna’s Terminator will have the liquid properties and less mechanical movement of either a T-1000 or later model.

I also liked what he said about the points of focus. That’s something you’ve seen in previous performances by other Terminators; they aren’t taking in the scenery, they have tunnel vision-like focus, giving attention only to their target and the obstacles that stand in the way of that target.

No matter how weird his process might seem, it’s cool that Gabriel Luna is bringing such a dedication to this role to get the character right in what is hopefully a return to form for the franchise. He is presumably one of the main villains of this film, and he carries on the tradition of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800, Robert Patrick’s T-1000 and Kristanna Loken’s T-X (although Dark Fate is ignoring Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines).

Terminators are ultimately horror villains; unfeeling killers that are nearly impossible to escape. Gabriel Luna has already shown his abilities in this area as Ghost Rider Robbie Reyes in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. That character was more emotional than a Terminator, but definitely had that stalking intensity down. And with Gabriel Luna’s Terminator possessing the ability to duplicate himself, it will be quite the nightmare for Sarah Connor and Co.

Terminator: Dark Fate arrives in theaters on November 1. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all of this year’s biggest movies, and keep it locked to CinemaBlend for all your movie news.

The Terminator franchise is about to enter a new era... again. Following the critical failure of Terminator Genisys, rather than pick up on lingering plot threads left behind by the 2015 entry, the next Terminator movie will instead serve as a direct sequel to Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Over the last few weeks, Terminator 6 has been assembling its lineup of new actors, and while Arnold Schwarzenegger is already primed to once again play a T-800, word has come in that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actor Gabriel Luna will play a different model of robotic assassin.

According to Deadline, Gabriel Luna has been cast in Terminator 6 as the newest cybernetic killer to cause trouble for the protagonists. Even though Arnold Schwarzenegger is unquestionably the person we think of first when recalling the Terminator movies, since the release of Terminator 2, other actors have portrayed these robots that are disguised as humans in order to complete their missions, like Robert Patrick, Kristanna Loken and Sam Worthington.

Gabriel Luna's acting credits include Bernie, Matador, Transpecos and True Detective, but he's arguably best known for playing Robbie Reyes, a.k.a. Ghost Rider, on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Season 4. Joining Terminator 6 will be his biggest cinematic appearance yet, though if he's anything like the other antagonistic Terminator models, I imagine he won't be much of a chatterbox. With plot details for Terminator 6 still nonexistent, it's unclear what this particular Terminator is trying to accomplish, though you can bet it will result in a lot of humans being killed.

But Gabriel Luna wasn't the only Terminator 6 casting announcement that came in today. It was also announced that Colombian actress Natalia Reyes has joined the movie, and THR reports that she will play the main protagonist, who is a young woman named Dani from a working class neighborhood who finds herself caught in the battle between humans and machines. Luna and Reyes join a cast that, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger, consists of Blade Runner 2049's Mackenzie Davis, who is playing a soldier-assassin from the future, and Scream Queens' Diego Boneta, who is reportedly playing Dani's brother. Linda Hamilton is also reprising Sarah Connor nearly 30 years after Terminator 2, though her and Schwarzenegger's roles are said to be "relatively brief." James Cameron, the man who created this sci-fi property, is attached as an executive producer, and Deadpool's Tim Miller is directing.

Terminator 6 will be released in theaters on November 22, 2019. We here at CinemaBlend will bring you more updates about the movie as soon as they become available, but if you're interested in what's arriving to the silver screen this year, look through our 2018 release schedule.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will soon air its milestone 100th episode, and it promises to tie together a great deal of what has made S.H.I.E.L.D. so much fun for five seasons so far. The official episode description revealed that viewers will finally learn the details of that mysterious deal Coulson made with Ghost Rider at the end of Season 4, which seemed to indicate that Robbie Reyes himself could make an appearance. Unfortunately, actor Gabriel Luna ruled out Robbie turning up, saying this when asked if he'd be back:

However the 100th episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. answers the question of what deal Coulson made with the Spirit of Vengeance, it won't involve any new scenes with Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes. Luna's comments to EW will undoubtedly come as a disappointment to S.H.I.E.L.D. fans who grew to love having him around in the first leg of Season 4, and his reappearance later in the season felt like a sign that maybe S.H.I.E.L.D. could find a way to bring him back on a regular basis. After all, he was central to a major arc and had powers that could help the agents out significantly.

Alas, we won't get any new footage of Robbie Reyes, although Gabriel Luna did make the point that old footage could be used to incorporate him into the 100th episode. I'm guessing we can at least count on Robbie appearing as Ghost Rider in the "previously on" segment at the beginning of the hour, and it's possible that flashbacks could be incorporated into the story. S.H.I.E.L.D. has proved in Season 5 that nothing is really impossible on the show anymore, so we can probably count on a wild ride in the landmark episode.

We have to hope that S.H.I.E.L.D. will find a way to bring Ghost Rider back into the mix at some point, although perhaps we should focus now on crossing our fingers that S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't get cancelled. The show isn't the biggest hit in the ratings, and the cancellation of its lead-in series could be a sign that ABC wants to make some changes in the Friday night lineup. Disney apparently stepped in to save S.H.I.E.L.D. from cancellation after Season 4; there's no saying if the same could be true after Season 5.

That said, there's still plenty of time left in Season 5, and the stakes are higher than ever after the devastating twist for one character in the previous episode. Now that Coulson and Co. are back in the present on Earth, they have a new batch of enemies to deal with, including Dove Cameron's creepy new character. We'll have to wait and see how the rest of the season unfolds.

New episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. air on Friday nights at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. For more viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our midseason TV premiere schedule, our Netflix premiere guide, and our Amazon Prime rundown.

If every show on TV was rolling on as many cylinders as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been in Season 4, viewers might not be able to make it through a full week of primetime without spontaneously combusting. Speaking of such heat-related acts, it appears as if the ABC comic book drama has finally locked in a point when audiences can once again watch Gabriel Luna's tragedy-driven Ghost Rider return to inflame more situations. Expect to see the fan-favorite character's skull once more for the Season 4 finale, titled "World's End."

The name "Worlds End" notably refers to just a single world, and I believe we all know that it'll be Hydra's gamechanging Framework existence going bye-bye after already doing so much interesting damage. And so it'll be extremely intriguing to know how Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider will factor into this takedown of an alternate reality. According to the official synopsis, Ghost Rider will be making a "surprising emergence" to assist Coulson and more in pulling the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. agents out of the Framework. And not everyone has leaving in mind, either, which could lead to some major problems that a spirit of vengeance just can't fix.

A big reason why Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had to put the brakes on any Ghost Rider storylines is because the effects that go into his signature fiery visage were extremely expensive, meaning they had to limit what his overall impact. And he definitely served his purpose earlier on in the season, so it would have been acceptable, if not wonderful, if fans had to wait until Season 5 to watch him roar back on the scene. But it appears as if everything worked out to get him back for one last act of vengeful bravery. Now we just have to wonder how he'll be coming back.

Will he show up as an alternate, truer version of Robbie Reyes within the Framework? Someone who's into wearing icepacks on his head and driving extremely slowly and with much regard to the laws of both physics and local government? That doesn't seem as likely as him returning to the real world to help out from that side of things, and we're just hoping that his reemergence for the finale hasn't been formed in a way that kills him off permanently. Not when we're wanting that spinoff to happen.

With Gabriel Luna set to return for a hot-headed finale episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fourth season, find the supernatural-ish spy drama's last few episodes airing Tuesday nights on ABC at 10:00 p.m. ET. head to our summer TV schedule to see everything else premiering on the small screen soon.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4 got off to a fiery start with the introduction of Robbie Reyes, a.k.a. Ghost Rider. Gabriel Luna has made a big impression on audiences already as Robbie, and it turns out that some S.H.I.E.L.D. fans are already clamoring for a separate Ghost Rider series. Apparently, a full series isn't entirely out of the question. Luna had this to say about a Ghost Rider-centric show in a recent interview:

Apparently, there has been at least some chatter about a Ghost Rider show. In fact, Luna recently revealed that he actually has a deal in place with Marvel to work on a series should the company want another drama. Ghost Rider is a pretty dark character, what with all the murder and flaming skull and soul-selling, so it could work. Nothing is currently moving forward at the moment, although the actor also told ComicBook.com that if a show does move forward, it could be in multiple mediums, including a Netflix show, a project on another network or even something on the big screen.

He could be a good addition to the Marvel lineup on Netflix. As anybody who has caught any of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and/or Luke Cage will know, the Netflix model allows shows to get much darker than what they could get away with on one of the broadcast networks. Still, Netflix has a pretty full slate of Marvel shows in the near future, with Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher all in the works. A Ghost Rider show might not be able to happen any time soon.

Alternately, a Ghost Rider show could hit the airwaves on ABC as a direct spinoff of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The network passed on the spinoff that would have followed the adventures of former agents Bobbi Morse and Lance Hunter, and it cancelled the prequel series Agent Carter after Season 2, but Ghost Rider might be a big enough antihero that ABC would give it a chance. After all, Ghost Rider is a huge comics character. Two movies about the Johnny Blaze incarnation were financial (if not critical) successes on the big screen; the Spirit of Vengeance could have enough of a mainstream presence that ABC would feel comfortable greenlighting a series.

Of course, we shouldn't count on Gabriel Luna headlining his own show just yet. Just because there have been talks doesn't mean that a series is a sure thing or even on the radar right now. As of now, Luna is technically only a recurring side character on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We may want to cross our fingers that he gets bumped up to regular status before we start planning spinoff plots.

I'll admit that I was skeptical about Ghost Rider on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. when news first broke that Robbie Reyes was turning up in Season 4, but Gabriel Luna has been so natural and compelling in the role that I became a fan almost immediately. If he does get his own Ghost Rider show, I know I'd tune in no matter where it aired.

Check out ABC on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET to see what's next for Robbie Reyes on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest news on Marvel TV.

The fall TV season is almost upon us, and it seems like every major superhero TV show will up the ante this year. With that in mind, arguably no series epitomizes that idea more than Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. One look at the title of the Season 4 premiere will tell you everything you need to know. After three seasons of low-key spy vs. spy action, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will open up its new season by introducing a longtime fan-favorite anti-hero: Ghost Rider.

We've just learned from SpoilerTV that the first episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fourth season will be titled, "The Ghost," which is an obvious reference to the imminent debut of Robbie Reyes a.k.a. Ghost Rider on the series. Although it's been established for quite some time that Ghost Rider would actually make an appearance on the fourth season of the hit ABC series, we now know that Marvel has decided to come out of the gates sprinting and establish the hot-head in the very first episode of the new season. Audiences have clamored for him to make his way to the small screen for quite some time, so it looks like the studio has no interest in beating around the bush. They know how impatient we are to see that flaming skull.

As previously stated, audiences have known for some time that Ghost Rider would appear on the coming season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but beyond that it's been incredibly difficult to anticipate any other major details. We already know that actor Gabriel Luna will step into the role of Robbie Reyes; however, as the series is using Reyes (a less established Ghost Rider compared to fan-favorite Johnny Blaze) his exact characterization remains a mystery.

Of course, as with everything else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there's a method to the madness. It generally appears that such a mystery will only help the fourth season of the Marvel series. Gabriel Luna himself has come out and stated that part of the reason he feels drawn to the role of Robbie Reyes is the opportunity to truly add to the Marvel mythos, which wouldn't be quite as easy if the series had chosen to use the more well-established Johnny Blaze. Now it looks like he'll get that opportunity as early as the season premiere.

There's also narrative rationale for the use of Robbie Reyes over Johnny Blaze in the premiere: Robbie's character is rooted in the show's overarching theme of family. He's a troubled hero who looks after his loved ones, but his rough upbringing in a place like East Los Angeles (a less explored area in the Marvel universe) makes his story incredibly fertile ground for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We're incredibly intrigued, and we want to see where this plotline goes.

CinemaBlend will keep you up to date regarding any and all relevant details related to the upcoming debut of Ghost Rider on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fourth season. The Marvel series will return to ABC on Tuesday, September 20 at 10 p.m. EST. Make sure to check out our comprehensive fall TV premiere schedule and fill out your calendars accordingly!

It's no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to grow in an unprecedented way. Phase 3 will see a ton of new characters enter the silver screen portion of the MCU, but some of the best and most fascinating additions are coming to the small screen sector. In fact, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has taken a huge step forward and signed on True Detective actor Gabriel Luna as the first ever live-action version of the Robbie Reyes version of Ghost Rider. Check him out, below.

It appears that the rumors are true: Ghost Rider will soon debut on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Marvel has found the actor to step into those leather boots and don the flaming skull. Actor Gabriel Luna will take on the role of Robbie Reyes, as part of the series opting to use the lesser-known version of the character -- as opposed to the decidedly more popular and iconic Johnny Blaze. For comparison, Blaze has been in publication since 1972, while Reyes premiered in the comics only two years ago.

Although Gabriel Luna doesn't have too many credits to his name; the 33-year-old actor has had fairly prominent roles in films like Freeheld and Bernie, as well as his aforementioned role in the second season of True Detective. Much like the Robbie Reyes version of the character, audiences don't have too many expectations for this young, up and coming actor, and as such there exist innumerable directions for him to take the role. That's seemingly part of the appeal for Luna.

With that in mind, Gabriel Luna seems to have endeavored to do the research and make the part his own. He has reportedly consumed any and all information regarding the Robbie Reyes character, and he recently told THR that part of his excitement stems from the opportunity to do something new with the young, relatively unexplored anti-hero. He elaborated:

If nothing else, we know we're getting a wholly original take on the Ghost Rider mythos. This isn't the first time that the character of Ghost Rider has received a live-action adaptation. Nicolas Cage infamously took on the role of Johnny Blaze twice in 2007's Ghost Rider, as well as the 2012 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. The original Ghost Rider film is actually not as bad as it gets credit for being, but most fans would agree that the iconic and demonic Marvel hero deserves far better than his silver screen outings would indicate. After all, the things most people remember about the Cage films are the CGI abs and the obvious hairpiece. Hollywood can do better than that.

CinemaBlend will bring you more information concerning the debut of Ghost Rider on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D as more information becomes available to us. The ABC series will return on Tuesday, September 20 at 10 p.m. PST/EST; make sure to check our fall TV premiere schedule and mark your calendars!