Season 2 cast of The Last of Us is getting more amazing by the day, and another beloved rising star just joined the star-studded ensemble. Isabela Merced joined the show’s second season in the role of Dina, following the footsteps of the recently cast Kaitlyn Dever and Young Mazino.
Merced got her big break with the titular role in Dora and the Lost City of Gold and went on to star in Sweet Girl, Father of the Bride, and Rosaline. She’s set to appear in several high-profile projects throughout 2024, including Madame Web, Turtles All the Way Down, and Alien: Romulus.
Merced will join The Last of Us in the role of Dina, Jesse’s ex (Young Mazino) and Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) new romantic interest, whose devotion to Ellie is constantly tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit.
The Last of Us co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann confirmed Merced’s casting and described her as a perfect person to bring Dina to life.
“Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous and instantly lovable. You can search forever for an actor who effortlessly embodies all of those things, or you can find Isabela Merced right away. We couldn’t be prouder to have her join our family,” said the duo in a statement.
