The first season of The Last of Us, HBO’s post-apocalyptic thrill ride streaming series, became known for its spectacular and high-budget film sets in Calgary.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he is thrilled about the news and that it confirms the city’s reputation as a first-rate production locale.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome The Last of Us to our city as they bring the production of their next season to Hollywood North,” said Sim in a statement.
“The Last of Us is one of the biggest productions ever filmed in Canada and one of the largest shows on television today. The choice to move filming to Vancouver is a demonstration of our city’s continued strength in the film and television sector.
Sim said he and Vancouver film commissioner Geoff Teoli went to Los Angeles in early March to tout the city’s value with several major studios and production companies.
“Those meetings included representatives from Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Discovery overseeing HBO, two of the forces behind one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows on television this year,” said Sim.
While it’s certain to be a disappointment for the Alberta production team, a local union head said it wasn’t a surprise.
“We have spoken to a producer from The Last of Us and they have confirmed that Season 2 will be based out of Vancouver,” said Damian Petti, president of the Calgary-based film workers union IATSE 212. “We were sort of expecting this news.”
Physically, Vancouver is a natural locale for the new season, because it will be loosely based on the second part of the video game series set in and around Seattle.
“The story goes to a different geographical location, which is rather close to another city in Canada,” series co-creator Craig Mazin hinted to Postmedia back in January.
He said at the time the decision would be complicated but ultimately strategic.
“The show is so big, it’s so massive, and we have so many resources behind us from HBO, which is incredible,” said Mazin. “But the show is so big, we really do have to think as strategically as possible or we just won’t be able to finish it.”
Creative B.C. CEO Prem Gill said Vancouver was already involved in Season 1 of The Last of Us because many of the visual and special effects sequences were produced here. She said B.C.’s depth of talent and history with the studios involved made it a natural fit.
“We have a great package here in British Columbia. We have the locations, we have the really talented crew base, that really speaks to the quality of productions that land here these days,” said Gill. “And we do have a competitive tax incentive.
“So (the decision is) all of those things, locations, etc.,” she said. “We have a really full soup-to-nuts ecosystem here in B.C. And first and foremost, we have the expertise in our talent here. So it’s no surprise that a show like this would be interested in B.C., and interested in Canada in general.
“Alberta has set a great precedent in Season 1, and hopefully the fans will be excited to see British Columbia in Season 2.”
Gill said the pace of production in Vancouver and B.C. has been steady so far in 2023, with about 25 productions already in the works, up from about 15 at this time last year — which saw about $3.6 billion in production investment in the province. And that busy docket is even though some high-profile locally produced shows, such as Riverdale, are coming to an end.
“There are ebbs and flows in this business,” said Gill. “It can be seasonal, shows are wrapping, so a lot of people who worked on certain shows for many seasons will be looking for their next gig.
“So something like The Last of Us, I think it’s going to be massive.”
The series follows Joel, played by Mandalorian and Game of Thrones star Pedro Pascal, and 14-year-old Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, also of Game of Thrones fame. Joel is tasked with protecting Ellie, who is immune to the fungal outbreak that has turned most people into the “infected.” (Read zombies, although the show never uses the Z word.)
The first season used different Calgary-area locations meant to represent several U.S. states.
It’s not yet clear where in Vancouver the new season will film. And while HBO has confirmed the second season will be shot in Vancouver, it has not said when production is set to begin.