5 actors we want to see in the Last of Us season 2

2. Joey King as Mel

Like many other characters in The Last of Us Part II, Mel isn’t a black-and-white character. While being part of Abby’s group, she still retains some compassion and empathy when facing violent situations. She’s not afraid to tell Abby that she’s going to extreme lengths in physical conflicts. Abby also has some medical training from working with Abby’s father, Dr. Jerry Anderson while being a former member of the Fireflies. Although Abby is pregnant during the events of the game, her individualistic and strong-willed attitude leads her into some risky situations.

Joey King would be a great Mel in the second season because she has experience portraying multifaceted and complex characters. King has starred in action-packed films such as the Bullet Train, while providing a darkly nuanced performance in shows like The Act.

1. Caleb McLaughlin as Owen

A former member of the Fireflies, Owen becomes part of Abby’s group in the game and is in a relationship with Mel. The character, however, is also Abby’s ex-boyfriend and still has some moments of chemistry with her, which makes a complicated love triangle in the game. Owen has positive and cheerful personality traits, which complement Abby’s cynicism. Being a part of the Fireflies, the character dreams of a better, more peaceful future with his friends, hoping to end the ceaseless fighting in the cordyceps-plagued world.

Caleb McLaughlin would be a great casting for Owen because, similar to Sadie Sink, he’s played a resilient character in the action-packed show, Stranger Things. In his role as Lucas Sinclair on the show, he’s the pragmatic and cheerful friend in the group, delivering an impactful performance while navigating middle school dynamics and otherworldly creatures. With experience in adventure-filled settings, he’d settle into this more adult role and give a performance that would be reminiscent of Owen’s most striking character traits from the game.