As The Last of Us returns for a second season on April 13, showrunner Craig Mazin has responded to renewed discussion around Bella Ramsey’s appearance as Ellie, particularly in relation to the five-year time jump between seasons.
In the video game, Ellie ages from 14 to 19, with noticeable changes in build and stature. Ramsey, who was 19 during production, kept a similar physical profile to their Season 1 appearance. At 5’1″, Ramsey’s height has drawn criticism from some viewers who were expecting a closer resemblance to the game’s older version of the character.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mazin addressed the online reaction. “Ellie in the game looks much older. Some people do change quite dramatically and some people don’t,” he said. “I’m not interested in the physical aspect — although I’ve been looking at Bella’s face for years while editing, and I can see that they’ve certainly grown. I’m interested in the emotional tone, and the change in personality.”
Mazin said he is aware of concerns related to portraying Ellie’s physical ability to defend herself in the world of the series, particularly given Ramsey’s size. He said that instead of adjusting the character or setting, the team leaned into the issue. “How does a small person fight with a big person?
It’s not going to be karate. It’s not going to be awesome punches and kicks — they’ll lose,” he said. “The answer is jiujitsu. I watch a lot of jiujitsu and I’ve specifically watched sessions where a small person is taking down a big person. That’s how that would happen because nobody’s fucking around in this world.”
For the role of Dina, Ellie’s romantic partner, Mazin said they looked for someone who would provide contrast without introducing visual imbalance on screen. Isabella Merced was cast in the part, partly based on that consideration. “We wanted somebody that was this contrast, this sunlight, because Ellie is tough and reserved and careful, and we wanted somebody who is radiating sun,” Mazin said. “We also didn’t want somebody that was 5’9″, because Bella is pretty short. It’s one of those things where it gets a little wonky to frame [two actors of very different height], or Dina might feel maternal, like a mom.”
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Merced joins new cast members Kaitlyn Dever, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Young Mazino, Danny Ramirez, and Joe Pantoliano. Pedro Pascal returns opposite Ramsey in the lead roles.
The Last of Us Season 2 premieres April 13 on HBO and Max.
