Bella Ramsey praises The Last of Us season 2's "excellent" new cast – and reveals the awkward first meeting with Abby actor Kaitlyn Dever

Ellie actor Bella Ramsey has revealed their reaction to the major newcomers in The Last of Us season 2 – including their first meeting with Abby actor Kaitlyn Dever.

"I’m incredibly happy with who has been cast," Ramsey tells GamesRadar+ during an interview for their short film Villain, directed by Sparky Tehnsuko.

"It’s exciting for me. I’m happy to have a whole new bunch of people come and join the family. It’s gonna be a lot of fun."

Ramsey and Joel actor Pedro Pascal will be joined by Dever, as well as fellow arrivals Isabel Merced (Dina) and Young Mazino (Jesse).

It’s Dever’s Abby, should it follow the source material, who is on a collision course with Ellie in The Last of Us season 2. To put it mildly, it’s one that’s hotly anticipated by fans.

Unlike the antagonistic relationship in Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed sequel, Ramsey and Dever’s real-life meet-up was decidedly more adorkable and wholesome.

"I’ve met Kaitlyn once in the most stupid place [at] a gala," Ramsey says of Dever, who was once touted to play Ellie in a Last of Us movie many moons ago.

"I met Kaitlyn there very briefly when we were waiting for our cars. I knew they were talking to her about casting at that point, so it was just sort of quietly like ‘Hey’ and shared numbers and stuff."

Ramsey adds of the castings: "She’s excellent, Isabel and Young as well, I’m really excited to get going with all of them."

The Last of Us season 2 is set to begin filming imminently, with several new directors announced – including Loki’s Kate Herron. The HBO series is set to return in 2025.

For more, check out the new TV shows coming out in 2024.

Villain is now available to watch on YouTube. For more from Bella Ramsey and director Sparky Tehnsuko, be sure to check out our Villain interview with the pair.