Interview: Gabriel Luna on Stepping into a Larger Action and Emotional Register in Season Two of ‘The Last of Us’

After a highly-anticipated return for the series coming off a highly acclaimed Season 1, The Last of Us, created by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, premiered its second season on April 13, 2025. The hit post-apocalyptic HBO series is set amidst the collapse of society caused by the ravaging cordyceps fungal infection that transforms its human hosts into zombie-like creatures.

In this interview, we speak with Gabriel Luna about stepping into a larger role in The Last of Us Season 2, as his character, Tommy Miller, becomes more central to both the action and the emotional core of the story. He reflects on the physical demands of the intense Episode 2 sequences and the quieter, more emotionally charged moments of Episode 3’s town hall, where Tommy is forced to navigate the tension between authority and compassion. Luna also shares insight into Tommy’s evolving relationship with Ellie, as he takes on a new sense of leadership and responsibility toward her in the second season.

We discuss some of the most poignant moments that Luna navigates, including working with Catherine O’Hara as a scene partner, throughout the course of the seven-episode second season.

Listen to our full conversation with Gabriel Luna, star of The Last of Us below.