Better Call Saul Star Was Neil Druckmann’s First Choice for The Last of Us Cameo

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In the most recent episode of “The Last of Us,” it was a long-planned cameo by Neil Druckmann that we saw, and this role was filled by actor Tony Dalton.

According to Druckmann, Tony Dalton was the ideal actor for the role, as revealed after the penultimate episode of season 2. The star from “Better Call Saul” appeared briefly yet significantly in the episode as Joel’s father, a memorable performance that convinced the showrunner and creator of “The Last of Us” to cast him in this flashback scene. Dalton’s portrayal of Lalo Salamanca on the “Breaking Bad” prequel impressed Druckmann so much that he humorously referred to him as “the most captivating yet menacing figure I’ve ever witnessed on television.” In the scene, a young Joel confronted his abusive father to shield Tommy from harm. However, Mr. Miller began to question whether his own actions were any better considering the abuse he endured at the hands of Joel’s grandfather.

Neil Druckmann emphasized the similarity between this memory and Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) paternal feelings towards Ellie (Bella Ramsey), depicting him as a man who “resorted to violence to safeguard his community, Tommy, and now it seems there’s something they can bond over at this level. Essentially, the father confesses, ‘I believe I made the right choices, but I’m not completely certain. I just know that I did things better than my father, who used violence against me even more.’ Joel’s self-doubt about this lingers as well. Despite doing his best with the resources at hand, he loves Ellie without condition.” The episode then explored their time in Jackson prior to season 2’s debut and detailed how their relationship gradually weakened, incorporating several of Ellie’s interactive flashback memories from 2020’s The Last of Us Part II.

Tony Dalton Joins The Last of Us

A surprising new member has joined the cast of “The Last of Us,” alongside returning faces such as Jeffrey Wright, Josh Peck, and Joe Pantoliano. The show is set to explore the first half of “Part II”‘s narrative, focusing on Ellie’s quest for revenge against Joel’s killer Abby (portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever) and her group, who sought vengeance for Joel’s actions in the season 1 finale. This journey leads Ellie to Seattle, where she becomes entangled in a conflict between two factions fighting for control of the city. Interestingly, a third season has already been commissioned before the second season’s debut, although HBO’s Francesca Orsi hinted that adapting “Part II”‘s entire story might require more than just three seasons.

Following his initiation in Mexican films and television series such as “Sr. Ávila”, Dalton garnered widespread recognition for his acting skills, eventually moving on to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he portrayed Jack Duquesne in “Hawkeye” and “Daredevil: Born Again”. His upcoming debut in video games will be in Druckmann’s next Naughty Dog production, where he’ll join an ensemble cast that includes Kumail Nanjiani and Tati Gabrielle from “The Last of Us”, playing the role of protagonist Jordan Mun.

The Last of Us‘ season 2 finale premieres May 25 on HBO and Max.

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2025-05-20 04:20