HBO is adapting the hit video game The Last of Us into a television series, and fans of the franchise have instantly taken to the internet to express who they want to see play Joel and Ellie. The creator of Chernobyl Craig Mazin is set to helm the project, making it clear that the studio wants this series to be a success. With Ellen Page being much too old to play Ellie, here are the top five actresses that we think should star in 2021’s most anticipated drama.
1. Maisie Williams
Maisie Williams has been the consensus top choice for Ellie since the news of the series first broke, and that is for good reason. Williams is a young actress who can hold her own on screen with the biggest stars in the world, as exemplified by her tenure on Game of Thrones, and she brings a wealth of experience to the role along with her youthful appearance. She is undoubtedly still on HBO’s call list to bring in on other television series, and with a character that is such a good match for her natural personality coming to the small screen, she is an obvious selection.
2. Sophia Lillis
While Sophia Lillis’ hair color differs from that of Ellie’s, she still has a similar facial structure to the character that cannot be ignored. Gaining fame from her role as Beverly Marsh in It, Lillis was one of the better actors out of the main cast, and is certainly perficient enough to star in a show of this magnitude. Lillis may not be the most well known young actress on this list, but her sheer resemblance to Ellie may still land her in HBO’s casting offices.
3. Sadie Sink
Much like Lillis, Sadie Sink has everything except for the hair color to resemble Ellie. Sink is best known for her portrayal of the annoying and troubled Max on Stranger Things, but no one really knows how expansive her range truly is. It would be interesting to see how much out of her comfort zone Sink could go in order to play Ellie, and whether or not her face and reputation alone is enough for her to be considered.
4. Dafne Keen
Logan holds up as one of the best movies of the decade, and it would not have been the same without Dafne Keen’s portrayal of X-23. She is an HBO alum, starring in His Dark Materials, and has the look and personality for a young version of Ellie. If she can perfect her American accent, there would be no reason as to why Keen couldn’t add this anticipated project to her ever-growing resume.
5. Millie Bobby Brown
Being perhaps the biggest breakout star from Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown is an obvious choice for Ellie. Not only does she look similar to the character, but she can play both a naive dreamer as well as a hardened survivor, which constitutes Ellie’s evolution in video game franchise. Brown is a name brand actress who could make two huge fan bases merge with her casting, while also delivering a performance well beyond her years.
