Nick Offerman, renowned for his many, many roles on TV and in movies, recently won his first Emmy for his role as Bill in HBO’s live-action adaptation of The Last of Us. Despite the controversial nature of the episode, Offerman’s masterful performance, along with one of the episode’s lead actors, Murray Bartlett, who starred opposite him as Frank, elevated it as one of the best episodes of the critically acclaimed debut season.
It’s safe to say that the episode left audiences hungry for more similar episodes and, if you ask Offerman, a mini-series exploring the couple’s lives before their fated post-apocalyptic meeting has been pitched.
While it’s uncertain whether this prequel will materialize, the idea of a series about Bill and Frank, potentially even as a musical, reflects the creative possibilities surrounding The Last of Us universe.
This possible prequel series has garnered attention due to the unique and heartfelt portrayal of Bill and Frank’s loving relationship in The Last of Us. Their story, as depicted in the third episode, Long, Long Time, diverged from the game, offering a more detailed and emotional backstory. This episode was acclaimed by fans and critics, receiving high praise, including a commendation from Steven Spielberg to show creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.
Nick Offerman says he’s pitched a musical prequel for his #TheLastofUs storyline with Murray Bartlett, following his Creative Arts #Emmys win pic.twitter.com/myS0L2Yvl9
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 7, 2024
The character of Bill, as played by Offerman, and Frank, portrayed by Murray Bartlett, brought a deeply loving if human element to the post-apocalyptic setting of the series. Their storyline added a layer of depth and emotion to the now-multi-season series, which has been a critical and commercial success, evidenced by the multiple awards won at the Creative Arts Emmys, including for visual effects, sound editing, makeup, and performances by Storm Reid and Nick Offerman himself.
Offerman, open to reprising his role as Bill, humorously noted that his casting was somewhat fortuitous, joking about being one of the few in Hollywood able to use a shovel. This willingness to return to the character underscores the impact and significance of Bill and Frank’s story within The Last of Us’ narrative.
The Last of Us Season 2 will begin filming soon with Bella Ramsey already preparing for a more physically taxing role as an older Ellie, opposite of Kaitlyn Dever as Abby with Pedro Pascal returning as Joel. The upcoming season is eagerly awaited, following the success of the first. Showrunner Craig Mazin, alongside Neil Druckmann, has hinted at more expansive storytelling in the future, indicating that the adaptation of The Last of Us Part II game into the series might stretch the adaptation up to a fourth season.
