The entertainment world is buzzing, and for fans of The Last of Us, it’s the kind of news that stops you in your tracks. One of the show’s stars has officially joined A24’s upcoming project, Deep Cuts. While the announcement promises a thrilling new chapter in this actor’s career, it also sparks a flurry of questions among devoted viewers.
Could this new role interfere with their time on The Last of Us? Might we see changes to storylines, or even the absence of their character going forward? We shared everything we know about their casting and whether it will have any impact on their role in The Last of Us right below.
The Last of Us actress Ariela Barer cast in A24's Deep Cuts
There's been much talk about A24's upcoming new movie, Deep Cuts, which is based on the novel of the same name by Holly Brickley. The latest news is that The Last of Us star Ariela Barer has joined the cast, stepping into the role of Zoe Gutierrez in a recasting that replaces Odessa A’zion. The character is described in the original novel as half Mexican and half Jewish, which aligns closely with Barer’s own heritage.
A'zion, who is Jewish but not Latina, revealed on social media that she had been unaware the character was written as a Jewish Latina. After receiving messages from fans pointing out the miscasting, she graciously agreed to step aside, making way for Barer. This recasting also reflects a broader push in Hollywood for more authentic representation, with over 100 Latino artists recently signing an open letter advocating for culturally accurate casting.
The Last of Us fans will recognize Barer from playing the role of Mel in the hit HBO series. Mel would eventually meet a tragic end in the season 2 finale when Ellie, in a tense confrontation, accidentally shoots her while aiming at Owen. Mel is left fatally wounded. In her final moments, Mel reveals that she is pregnant, creating one of the most heartbreaking and emotionally charged scenes of the series.
Although she dies in the second season, Mel could return for the highly anticipated The Last of Us season 3. How? Well, the third season focuses on Abby's backstory, which is before Mel's tragic death. Neither HBO nor the show's creative team has confirmed Barer's return as Mel for the third installment, but Deadline reports that her work on the post-apocalyptic series will not be affected by her new role in Deep Cuts. This seems to hint that Barer will appear in The Last of Us season 3. But again, nothing has been confirmed.
Written and directed by Sean Durkin, Deep Cuts is a coming-of-age love story about two music-loving young adults navigating life, love, and growing up in the 2000s. These characters will be played by Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey. They're the only two actors besides Barer who have been officially confirmed in the cast so far. In addition, the cameras are reportedly set to start rolling soon.