O Riley? Yah, Riley
Work continues on the production of HBO’s televisual adaptation of The Last of Us, with the latest news from the set being that the producers have cast up-and-coming thesp Storm Reid in the key role of Riley Abel, who and will no doubt remember from The Last of Us’ DLC expansion Left Behind.
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Reid has already bagged numerous choice roles in her very young career. Having made her big-screen debut in 2013 epic 12 Years a Slave, Reid had already appeared in a slew of prestige films and TV shows in relatively small roles before receiving her “big break” as a lead in 2018 fantasy sci-fi adventure A Wrinkle in Time as Meg Murray — a role that earned Reid the NAACP Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Role in a Motion Picture.
More recently, Reid can be spotted playing Bloodsport’s estranged daughter, Tyla, in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. Perhaps her most notable role is that of Gia Bennett, sister of Zendaya’s Rue Bennett, in HBO’s popular teenage drama Euphoria. For The Last of Us, Reid will join a cast that already includes Pedro Pascal (Joel Miller), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), and Nick Offerman (Bill).
With the talent on offer — and original creator Neil Druckmann involved in the writing and direction of the series — HBO’s The Last of Us is shaping up to be a faithful adaptation of the gripping and grisly video games. The Last of Us is scheduled to premiere on HBO later in 2022.
