The Last of Us season 2 adds Beef breakout Young Mazino as game character Jesse

Now that HBO has the crucial role of Abby squared away for The Last of Us season 2, it's time to meet another new face.

Young Mazino, the breakout star of Golden Globe-winning Netflix series Beef, has been cast in the role of Jesse, an important character in Ellie's orbit in the events to come. Those who've played 2020's The Last of Us Part II know the character well, but an official HBO description merely refers to him as "a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at terrible cost."

Actor Stephen Chang — who had roles in Shameless, This Is Us, and Bosch: Legacy — voiced Jesse in the video games.

“Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him," The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said in a joint statement. "We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show.”

News of Mazino's involvement in the new season comes a day after HBO confirmed Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, described by the Home Box Office network as "a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved."

Mazino has been working consistently as an actor since 2013 with smaller parts across shows like Blindspot, New Amsterdam, Blue Bloods, and Prodigal Son. Though, it was his role in Beef, playing Steven Yeun's onscreen brother Paul Cho, that earned him an Emmy nomination for Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology. His costars, Yeun and Ali Wong, both took home Golden Globes for their lead performances in the awards ceremony this past Sunday.

Any official story details about The Last of Us season 2 are being kept under wraps, which is on par with how gaming studio Naughty Dog rolled out Part II in 2020. However, fans of the original games are already preparing themselves. Part II took place five years after the events of the first, which saw hardened survivor Joel escorting the young Ellie across an apocalyptic America forever shaped by a zombie-like fungal plague that only she is immune to.

Naughty Dog described the Part II story at the time as follows: "Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed [Joel and Ellie] peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closure. As she hunts those responsible one by one, she is confronted with the devastating physical and emotional repercussions of her actions."

Based on what we know about the game, it's safe to assume season 2 will see the return of season 1's Pedro Pascal (Joel), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Gabriel Luna (Tommy), and Rutina Wesley (Maria). But no other casting has been confirmed. Season 2 will begin filming this year ahead of a projected premiere in 2025.

The Last of Us season 1 is currently the winner of eight Creative Arts Emmys, including awards for Nick Offerman and Storm Reid's guest-starring performances. And the drama is up for many more when the 75th Primetime Emmys ceremony commences this Monday.

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