How It: Welcome to Derry's genius Pennywise risk pays off – and makes it scarier than the films
The Dancing Clown is nowhere to be seen in Welcome to Derry's first episode.
**Warning – It: Welcome to Derry spoilers ahead.** If the opening episode of It: Welcome to Derry didn't leave you reeling, you might be dead inside. I'm not being dramatic. The opening episode of the long-awaited prequel doesn't just throw us in at the deep end, but holds us under the water until we're gasping for breath. The gory first instalment introduces viewers to the ill-fated Matty, who's trying to escape an abusive home environment. But, after he's picked up from the side of the road by a strange family, the showrunners hold nothing back as they force Matty (and us!) to witness the birth of a demonic baby, amping up the body horror as Matty is snatched before our very eyes. After Matty's classmates (AKA the current Losers Club) witness strange and nightmarish happenings, things go from bad to worse with the movie theatre scene – a brutal sequence that sees most of our new Losers Club toyed with and murdered, as our good friend, the demon baby, makes its gruesome return. Of course, we know whose handiwork this is. Despite manifesting in a different form, we know exactly who feeds on fear in this way. But, then, why don't we ever see the dread creature that haunts Derry, Pennywise? In fact, the showrunners have confirmed that we won't see Pennywise as we know and hate him for some time. Of course, his presence is felt all over the first episode, but for those hoping to get a glimpse of the Dancing Clown this early on, you might be disappointed. In my book, though, that's the best decision that could have been made. In hiding Pennywise from us, the showrunners master an age-old rule of horror movie magic: hiding the monster. Any horror fan will be familiar with the rule, which has been used in thrillers and horrors across the ages, from Jaws to Jurassic Park to the Blair Witch Project to Paranormal Activity to A Quiet Place and beyond. In short, hiding the monster allows our imaginations to run free. Nothing the filmmaker could ultimately show us on screen could match up to the horrors we could imagine. As horror researcher Mathias Clasen recently told RadioTimes.com, hiding the monster "allows us to build a model in our own mind that is worse than anything that you could put on a screen. The human imagination is a horror director, and the imagination very quickly runs to worst case scenarios". "That's just the way that the human imagination works, because one of its functions is to forecast, is to kind of create simulations of possible futures, very often running toward worst case scenarios," he added. "So the human imagination can produce ideas and images that are way scarier than anything you can see on a screen, also because it's personal. The imagination takes elements from your own biography and combines it with whatever stimulus is setting it off and and creates your own worst nightmare." Doesn't that actually sound a lot like what Pennywise himself does? In keeping the Dancing Clown off-screen, the filmmakers have, purposefully or not, emulated the impact of the very villain they're teeing up in a genius move. Just as Pennywise haunts the Losers Club on screen with their worst nightmares, feeding off of their fear, Andy and Barbara Muschietti and co have done the same to us, forcing us to bring our own fears to our viewing experience. But how It: Welcome to Derry hides the monster is obviously very different to our previous examples, all of which rely on the unknown. We've all seen the It films, and we're all very aware of what Bill Skarsgård looks like as Dancing Clown. As terrifying as it might be, a hint of that horror could be toned down with him being so familiar. Now, the terror is preserved in not knowing how or when he's finally going to appear. Throughout the first episode of It: Welcome to Derry, Pennywise is a looming and very real presence, but one you can never quite grip onto, much like a balloon floating away in the wind. Our anticipation is heightened. He's around every turn, in your periphery at every moment – simultaneously everywhere and nowhere, only to appear when you least expect it. View Green Video on the source website That's so much more effective in a series than it would have been in a film, too. It's the ultimate slow-burn, as we could be waiting weeks for Pennywise to finally spring into action. In the first episodes of Welcome to Derry, Pennywise haunts us not in his Dancing Clown form, but in the form of children's nightmares, filling them with fear as he effectively fattens up his meal, before eventually showing himself only when he's good and ready to feast, in a chilling and even theatrical scene that is sure to delight viewers (I promise, he's worth the wait). Hiding his most familiar and recognisable form away for so long was a huge risk for the showrunners. Due to the nature of the story, he and the town of Derry are some of the only constants in the franchise, with the cast of characters changing every time. The Dancing Clown is synonymous with It, so much so that I'm surprised hiding him hasn't gone badly wrong. It allows us to learn much more about the characters by seeing their worst nightmares come to life, and indeed about ourselves as we imagine every horrible way he could manifest before we finally see him in action. As he famously declares, he is every worst nightmare you've ever had – and this might be the worst of them all. New episodes of It: Welcome to Derry are released weekly on Sky Atlantic and NOW. 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When is It: Welcome to Derry set? Full timeline explained
Pennywise's reign of terror spans a fair few decades.
Following recent adaptations of The Institute and The Long Walk, HBO’s highly anticipated series It: Welcome to Derry marks the latest Stephen King story to make its way to the screen. Now, the first horrifying episode is here, with fans completely hooked on the prequel, which also includes plenty of Easter eggs and references to other King works. With the original novel spanning over 1,000 pages, there’s plenty of fascinating material that didn’t make it into the 2017 and 2019 It films. Interwoven with the Losers Club’s story in King’s 1986 classic are five distinct "Derry" interludes, which offer vital insights into Pennywise’s influence and the evils that unfold in the cursed town. But with It: Chapter One and Two star Bill Skarsgård the only major cast member returning as the terrifying inter-dimensional entity, where exactly does this next instalment fit into the larger timeline of Pennywise’s reign of terror? When is It: Welcome to Derry set? It: Welcome to Derry is set in 1962, 27 years before It: Chapter 1. Andy Muschietti’s films shifted the timeline of Stephen King’s original novel, with the director first shifting the events of It Chapter One to the summer of 1988, as opposed to 1958 in the novel. As a result, the adult reunion then took place in 2016, 27 years on from the Loser Club’s experience with Pennywise. It: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to Muschietti's films, with the series set in the early swinging sixties. Events unfold once again (you guessed it!) 27 years earlier than the dark deeds of It Chapter One, in 1962. The terrifying prologue – which perfectly establishes the film’s atmospheric and visceral body horror – is set four months before the main events of the show, which take place in April 1962. The show directly draws from material of the Derry interludes, particularly the story of the Black Spot nightclub – an establishment which predominantly Black soldiers from the nearby Army base frequented – occurred during this year. While Muschietti, alongside producer Barbara Muschietti and writer Jason Fuchs, has taken some creative liberties with the original timeline, they’ve remained faithful to 1962 as a key moment in Derry’s dark history. This event was briefly referenced in the 2017 movie, as Mike Hanlon’s grandfather recounts it to a young Mike, with the horror-drama set to further explore this chilling chapter of Derry’s dark history. What is the timeline of It: Welcome to Derry and the It films? In its most basic terms, the timeline is as follows: It: Welcome to Derry – 1962 It: Chapter 1 – 1989 It: Chapter 2 – 2016 As in the King novels, It: Welcome to Derry explores an earlier surfacing of the evil shape-shifting entity, a cyclical event which occurs approximately every 27 years as Pennywise feeds on the fears and hatred of Derry’s residents, particularly children. This cycle – and the subsequent patterns of activity – was discovered by the Loser Club historian as he researched Pennywise’s reign of terror in Derry, unearthing the inexplicable violence, unspeakable deeds and mass death linked with Pennywise’s awakenings. View Green Video on the source website Mike’s interviews conducted with the town’s older generations often proved integral, as he discovered key information about historical events in Derry. Inspired by the haunting second interlude in the novel, Muschietti and co explore the events leading up to the tragedy of the club in 1962, as recalled by Mike Hanlon’s father, Will Hanlon. This event is key in exploring Pennywise’s influence and amplification of human cruelty in Derry, while helping to connect the prequel to the latter films, along with introducing fan favourite Stephen King character Dick Hallorann to the franchise. Clever! How is It: Welcome to Derry connected to the It films? Alongside introducing a new generation of Derry residents, including a younger Will Hanlon, It: Welcome to Derry connects directly to both the It films and Stephen King’s wider mythos The series follows a young airman, Leroy Hanlon (played by Jovan Adepo) who is the father of Will Halon, and who later becomes the grandfather of Mike. Leroy is stationed at a nearby air base in Derry, Maine, and works alongside fellow service man and familiar face from King’s universe – Dick Hallorann, played by Chris Chalk. Before he became the Overlook Hotel cook in The Shining, the iconic Stephen King character was a fellow serviceman with his own supernatural gifts. The pair are instrumental in founding the Black Spot nightclub and uncovering, along with serving as key members in a plot which explores Pennywise’s fascinating origin. Longtime King fans can also expect the return of the turtle motifs that appeared in Muschietti’s films – which are a nod to Maturin, the cosmic being representing balance against Pennywise in King’s larger Dark Tower mythology. It: Welcome to Derry is coming to Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 27th October 2025 – sign up for Sky TV. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. 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It: Welcome to Derry stars reveal how "terrifying" Bill Skarsgård was kept hidden on set
Pennywise is back to haunt another generation of young Derry residents – and viewers!
Pennywise the Dancing Clown is officially back on our screens, with Bill Skarsgård reprising his chilling role and once again delivering that haunting grin as the malevolent creature. Set in 1960s Derry, the eight-episode HBO horror prequel introduces a new gang of kids terrorised by the killer clown, while also delving deeper into Pennywise’s sinister origins. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, the young cast revealed how the Swedish actor was deliberately kept hidden on set to heighten their reactions when encountering Skarsgård in full costume. Star Amanda Christine, who plays Ronnie in the prequel, explained: "I had wanted to see him on set, but like the way we were kind of working, he was kind of kept like a secret, in a way, and it was like, very top secret.” “We kind of got glimpses of him here and now and then, but once we got to that official scene, when we got to see him, it was so scary because he's tall, his outfit, plus the head, and sometimes he had teeth and, like, blood.” She continued: “It was just like, 'Oh my gosh. I've never been afraid of clowns. But at this moment, I'm terrified! I'm terrified!'" Co-star Blake James, who plays Will Hanlon – father of It’s Losers Club member Mike Hanlon – added: “I don't know any other word to use besides terrifying! He's like, six five as well.” Asked what specifically made Skarsgård’s portrayal so frightening, he added: “Not only is his makeup crazy scary, his facial movements are wicked as well. He's six foot five, so you're like, looking up at him. It's terrible, I don't wish that on anybody!” Recalling the filming of a particularly tense sewer scene, Arian S Cartaya, who plays Derry newcomer Rich, said: “So I only saw him in full costume, like I never saw Bill as a human being. So, we were filming that scene, and he lunged towards us, and I screamed as hard as I could, and I c*****d my pants. Meanwhile, young lead Clara Stack, who plays Lilly, shared: “I think there was so much anticipation leading up to the moment of seeing him, and we were all really excited for it and really scared too. So seeing him for the first time, I think we're all just in awe and kind of shocked.” She also praised Skarsgård’s performance, adding: “Bill did a really good job of obviously endowing that character and scaring us. So it was super terrifying, but also so much fun." While it might be a few more episodes before we see Skarsgård’s killer clown in full terrifying force, there’s no doubt the encounter will deliver plenty more nightmare fuel in the prequel It: Welcome to Derry. And if the first episode’s shocking cinema sequence is anything to go by, it’s probably best to keep the lights on — or you might just end up floating too! New episodes of It: Welcome to Derry are released weekly on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Add It: Welcome to Derry to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The 7 best Stephen King Easter eggs in It: Welcome to Derry
The chilling prequel dives deep into King’s interconnected world of horror.
Horror maestro Stephen King has written an incredible number of books over the decades, and fans will know that many of them are subtly interconnected in increasingly intricate ways – as new prequel It: Welcome to Derry proves. In King’s mythology, The Dark Tower acts as the spine of this shared universe, linking recurring characters, locations and supernatural abilities across his stories. Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the filmmakers behind the 2017 and 2019 It movies, tap into this intriguing web of connections in the new HBO horror-drama. Inspired by Mike Hanlon's interludes in Stephen King's behemoth novel, the Muschiettis have packed the prequel with plenty of nods to King’s wider world. From the inclusion of familiar faces and locations, to blink-and-you’ll-miss-them Easter eggs, long-time fans should get a lot out of it. Read on to discover the major references and Easter eggs woven throughout the eight-part series. It: Welcome to Derry's best Stephen King Easter eggs explained 1. The Hanlon family and their connection with the Black Spot As referenced in Ben Hanscom’s research into Derry’s dark history in It: Chapter One, the Black Spot fire was just one in a long line of tragic events in the cursed town’s unsettling past. In the novel’s second interlude, Mike Hanlon’s father, Will, recounts the story of how he and his comrades in the Air Force created the Black Spot as a safe space for Black patrons. Following a racially motivated arson attack by a white supremacist group, the establishment was destroyed, killing several people trapped inside. As the Muschiettis tweaked Mike’s backstory and the fate of his parents in the films, It: Welcome to Derry explores the same event from a slightly different perspective. Set in 1962, the showrunners have opted for Mike’s grandfather, Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) to don the Air Force uniform rather than Will. Exploring the events leading up to this pivotal moment, Leroy will also be working alongside none other than The Shining’s Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk), another co-founder of the establishment. The intergenerational storytelling highlights the cyclical nature of the town’s racism, discrimination and hate crimes – with Pennywise feeding directly on the fear and violence they generate. 2. The Shining and Doctor Sleep As previously mentioned, Chalk’s Dick Hallorann will feature prominently in the prequel – though this isn’t the same kindly figure from the Overlook Hotel we all know and love. Known for his brief appearance in The Shining and his greater mentor role for Danny Torrence in the belated sequel Doctor Sleep, It: Welcome to Derry features a much younger version of the character gifted with psychic abilities. The character is referenced in the original 1986 novel, and throughout the series we see how he eventually befriends Mike’s grandfather, Leroy Hanlon, and becomes the co-founder of the veterans bar, The Black Spot. The When They See Us alum explained recently: “Dick is in Derry because Dick f**ked up. And that's the truth. You'll see the show and you'll get that." "Dick thinks all of these people are corny," said Chalk, of his character's relationship with Derry's townsfolk. "He doesn't respect a single one of them, and that's the journey of Dick. The Dick you know is super nice.... Good luck with this, Dick." 3. Other references to It: Chapter One and Two There are plenty of other nods to the two It films, including the arrival of a meteorite, which plays a key role in Pennywise’s origins. The series also features a black-and-white photo of Bob Gray, one of Pennywise’s human aliases from the novel. The ambiguity around why this shapeshifting cosmic entity sometimes adopts that alias has intrigued fans over the years. Promotional trailers for the series hint that we may finally learn more about this fascinating aspect of Pennywise’s character. A giant Paul Bunyan statue is also shown being erected in the town – the same statue that Pennywise later uses to terrorise Richie Tozier. The original statue that inspired the novel is located in Bangor, Maine, and remains a popular spot for King fans. Eagle-eyed viewers may also spot graffiti in the girls’ bathroom featuring the name Alvin Marsh inside a heart, referencing the character who becomes the abusive father of Beverly Marsh in It: Chapter One and Two. 4. The Dark Tower Throughout both It: Chapter One and Two, several Turtle motifs appear, which are a nod to the cosmic turtle Maturin from Stephen King’s novels (yes, really!). In Chapter One, a LEGO turtle and TRTL brand walkie-talkie are spotted in Georgie's room. Additionally, a model turtle is present on a desk at Derry Elementary in Chapter Two. These references allude to the benevolent cosmic entity who plays a significant role in King’s mythos. Maturin is one of the twelve Guardians of the Beam in The Dark Tower series, serving as a protector of the multiverse. He originates from a higher-dimensional, spiritual plane known as the “Macroverse” and is an opposing force to Pennywise. While the Muschiettis never fully explored the significance of the shelled creature in the two films, there are even more recurring turtle motifs in the eight-part series, giving the show room to delve deeper into this arcane lore. Along with Bert the turtle appearing as the school mascot – with one of the kids dressed up in a turtle costume – there’s also a turtle charm on one of the main children’s bracelets, and she even says “turtles are lucky”. Keep your fingers crossed, Dark Tower fans! 5. Shawshank Redemption Considered one of the best movies of all time, The Shawshank Redemption is a hugely popular adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel. The titular prison now makes its debut in the It franchise, with a navy-blue bus bearing the stencilled words ‘Shawshank State Prison’ making an appearance. 6. Juniper Hill Asylum View oEmbed on the source website The infamous psychiatric hospital in Maine appears in several of King’s books, including It, Castle Rock, 11/22/63 and Gerald’s Game. Alongside patients such as Henry Bowers, the bully from It: Chapter One and Two, Welcome to Derry character Lilly (Clara Stack) has an intriguing history with the asylum. 7. Carrie Finally, the cinema prominently featured in the first episode of It: Welcome to Derry is the Capitol Theatre. This real-life cinema, based in Burlington, Iowa, closed its doors in March 1977. The historic Art Deco theatre’s final screening was Carrie, an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 novel. 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Peacemaker season 2 ending explained: How finale sets up Superman's Man of Tomorrow
Things aren't looking good for Chris. **CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR PEACEMAKER SEASON 2 EPISODE 8**
**Warning: Spoilers ahead for Peacemaker season 2 episode 8.** Will Peacemaker ever find any actual peace? The penultimate episode of season 2 left Chris Smith in a very bad place. Yes, even worse than the Nazi-loving dimension he's just escaped from. Because on the team's way out, both Peacemaker's (alternate) brother and (alternate) father ended up dying, forcing Chris to relive the loss of his family all over again. With Peacemaker now in custody and the rest of the gang in disarray, what does this mean for the final chapter of season 2? And how do we go from that to the setup for season 3, not to mention James Gunn's Superman sequel Superman, Man of Tomorrow, which this episode will also launch. Grab yourself a Big Belly burger and settle in as we take a closer look at the end of season 2 and what's next for Peacemaker. Peacemaker season 2 ending explained The finale starts one month prior where we finally get to the night Chris and Emilia Harcourt acted on their feelings and shared a kiss. Copious amounts of tequila aside, it's an incredibly sweet, affecting sequence that wouldn't feel out of place in a modern-day rom-com. That's not to say it's cheesy either, especially when Emilia nearly pummels a guy with freckles. The chemistry Chris and Emilia share feels genuine, rooted in affection for their friends and each other. Back in the present, Chris rejects efforts made by the gang to visit him in prison. He claims to a guard that he's become the angel of death as a result of the trauma he's endured, but if that's true of anyone, it's Rick Flag Sr. Time and time again, he sends A.R.G.U.S. agents to investigate unlocked doors in the inter-dimensional space that Peacemaker first introduced us to at the start of this season. John Economos points out that this feels reckless, especially given that the agents can't be tracked once they pass through each door. Most of the doors are locked though, thankfully. That is, until they reach number 22. At first, it looks like the sweetest dream, a world where candy canes stand tall in place of trees. But, of course, it's not long until tiny critters ambush the agents, including Emilia, biting at their hazmat suits with tiny pointy teeth. The team eventually escape, shooting and even ripping the imps apart who explode in a puff of glitter. One team member, embarrassed earlier by his story of puking on a stripper, has nothing to be embarrassed about anymore, and that's because he's dead. The little gremlins smashed their way through the glass in his helmet and proceeded to eat his face. So what is the plan exactly? It turns out Flag is looking for an uninhabited world that's breathable with its own food and water supply. But why? Leota Adebayo, aka Ads, visits Vigilante who ends up envisioning her and his mum engaged in cunnilingus because… reasons. Moving swiftly past that, Ads needs the blood money Vigilante has accrued from all his crime busts over the years. It's the only way they can pay off Peacemaker's bail and free him from jail. Vigilante would rather kill the judge's family because he's afraid this blood money is cursed, but Ads tricks him into agreeing anyway. Chris makes bail, despite his wishes to the contrary, so he just takes off to a dingy motel with Eagly. Meanwhile, A.R.G.U.S. Agents open plenty more doors to other worlds including one with a black hole, another with old-school zombies, and a third that's populated by giant skulls on spider-like legs, screaming into the abyss. That's a big nope for everyone involved, although Lex Luthor leaves a note saying the black hole world looks promising. Flag seems pretty happy too, laughing and doing lines of coke with his team while more agents are brutally killed under his command. Yep, Flag sucks, which is a bummer for anyone who enjoyed watching a younger version of his character lead the Creature Commandos in Gunn's recent animated series. Eventually, another dimension suited to his needs is found. In a shady meeting with some higher-ups, Flag explains that this 'Salvation' planet is the perfect place to house criminals that prisons like Arkham Asylum and Belle Reve can't handle. Essentially, he wants to remove all the aliens and meta-humans he doesn't like, much like a dumber version of Lex. Will that soon include Superman? Flag's cyborg colleague slash girlfriend Sasha Bordeaux doesn't feel particularly good about this plan, and with so many people dying for the cause, she decides to form an alliance with Emilia and put a stop to this. View oEmbed on the source website They meet in the same Big Belly burger restaurant that Harcourt and Chris visited on their date, which is as good a time as any to point out that Peacemaker has barely appeared in the finale yet, even though it's his show. While some might be quick to criticise that, this just goes to show how strong the supporting cast is, especially when they band together with one common goal. Despite that camaraderie, Danielle Brooks remains the clear standout here, and she gets a chance to shine when Ads visits her ex to find resolution and close that chapter of her life for good. The words they share — "It tears me apart at my bones and I will love you for the rest of my life, but I know we’re not right for each other" — are so good that they almost make me forgive the fact that Ads' wife's been missing from the show since episode 1. Using her special clearance, Sasha finds Peacemaker's location with a little help from John who tells what might be the worst joke in the world — while revealing a harrowing fact about lobsters in the process. Did you know they die because their shells stop growing so they end up being crushed by their own exo-skeleton? Well now you do... Ok, maybe double check that one on Google. The group catch up with Chris outside the motel. He tries to run, but Vigilante electrocutes him. It's ok though. He does it with love. And then they all pour out their feelings to Chris who reveals why he's been pushing everyone away. With so many people dying around him, including his family, twice, Chris believes that he's cursed. After all, weirder things have happened in a world full of magic and aliens and all kinds of f***ery. But Ads points out that all those deaths happened because Chris was listening to other people, Amanda Waller… his father… and not himself. "When you are truly who you are, Chris Smith, what happens? You touch people, man. I believe in miracles because of you. I saw an eagle hug a human. I know who I am because of you and when I’m around you, I feel loved. You’re big and you’re stupid but I know you love me and I don’t know if I can say that about anyone else in the world." Brooks has received Oscar and Emmy nominations in the past, so how about we just give her both for this performance? It doesn't have to make sense. All I know is that she's amazing here and got me crying even harder than her character does in that motel room. Everyone pitches in to convince Chris that they're his family, and with that, they go off to the next big thing. But before they do, Peacemaker stops Emilia and asks her if their time on the boat meant something to her. She pushes back, at first, afraid again that she might hurt him, but then Emilia admits: "Of course it did you fucking arsehole. It meant everything." Chris goes back inside and pauses for a moment. Suddenly, he then does the biggest cheer along with an adorable leap in the air and mini dance break to the show's theme song. The show intercuts that with an actual performance by the band Foxy Shazam one week later on the rock boat. A montage where everyone grabs money from Adrian's basement, complete with an obligatory stripper dance from Adrian, cuts to the team building their own office alongside Judo Master and Agent Langston Fleury (you know, the guy with bird blindness). There's a very cheesy moment where the gang all walk together, slow-motion, in a line, which shouldn't work, but you know what? They've earned it. We then learn from Langston and Adrian that spiders can produce milk, because what else are these two loveable weirdos going to talk about now they're teammates? That one's definitely true. I've already Googled it. How the Peacemaker finale sets up season 3 and Superman's Man of Tomorrow As the team leave the office, we pan up to see that the new organisation they've funded with Adrian's blood money is called Checkmate. In DC Comics, Checkmate is an established spy team that follows a chess motif with everyone's code named based on rank, like Kings and Queens on top, for example. The white half of the division focuses on information and intelligence while the agents designated black work in the field. Peacemaker was actually a member of Checkmate in the source material, so this all tracks, and with the organisation's focus on ensuring balance between humans and metahumans, it's obvious that the Peacemaker gang will continue to play an important role across the wider DC Universe moving forward. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/02/superman-krypto-dd3e1d5.jpg" width="2100" height="1400" alt="Superman (David Corenswet) is dressed in his full superman outfit (blue latex body suit, red underwear, yellow belt, black boots and red cape) is seen talking to his dog, Krypto – a white terrier mutt with a red cape on – in the Fortress of Solitude – a cave made entirely of ice. A silver robot is seen behind Superman." title="superman-krypto" /> But not with Chris, it seems, because at the very end of the episode, Flag kidnaps him and throws our hero through the interdimensional door, trapping him on Salvation. He claims Peacemaker is a test subject to see what long-term effects the dimension might have on his body. But really, it's pretty obvious he's doing it out of spite. "This is for Ricky, you piece of s**t," says Flag as the door closes and disappears, leaving Chris alone in another dimension where monstrous screams from who knows what can be heard in the distance. That's what you get for killing the dude's son in a Suicide Squad feature film a few years back, I guess. Two post-credits scenes follow, both played for laughs. The first sees a government official suggesting that Flag put up a "vaporising barrier" around Salvation to ensure no one can escape. Kind of like a bug zapper. The second feels more like a deleted scene that didn't make the cut because it jumps back to John trying to distract everyone with a terrible joke. The story this time, about a serial killer who shows his killer permit to a cop, leaves one colleague in fits of laughter though. "Looks like someone has got a new fan," John says to himself rather smugly. It's interesting to end the episode on a joke as some fans feel the same way about this episode as a whole, complaining online that there wasn't enough action or that it was too concerned with setting up something new at the end. It also doesn't help that Gunn has previously hyped this episode up, only for the cameos in question to be old rock bands and not famed heroes like the Justice League finale from season 1. Yet there's something rather ballsy about doubling down on the character work while forgoing the usual big CGI battle that's come to characterise the end of so many shows like this. Sure, there are still loose ends to take care of, potentially in other DC endeavours rather than a third season of Peacemaker. It's previously been hinted that Superman and Lex Luthor will be forced to team up in their next movie together, Man of Tomorrow, and it's looking more and more likely that this may take place on the Salvation planet introduced here. In the comics, this 'Salvation Run' arc forced plenty of villains to team up so they could escape the prison world together, and it wouldn't take much of a twist to throw Superman into that equation, especially given Lex's involvement here in Peacemaker. One thing's for sure, Chris ain't finding peace anytime soon, even if it did look that way ever so briefly in that happy smiley slow-motion segment. Peacemaker is available on Sky Max and NOW. Add Peacemaker to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Game of Thrones' new prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gets release month confirmed after premiere delayed
It's almost time to return to Westeros. HBO boss Casey Bloys has confirmed a release window for upcoming prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it's coming sooner than fans might have expected. Bloys, HBO's CEO, revealed the Game of Thrones spin-off is coming our way in January 2026, while House of the Dragon season 3 will air later in the year. Speaking to TheWrap at the Emmys, he said: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be in January, and then House of the Dragon will probably be just outside this Emmy cycle." Based on George RR Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, the six-part series will star Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as young Aegon V Targaryen, AKA Egg. The series will be set approximately 90 to 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, with the Targaryen dynasty still on the throne. It's good news that the series is coming so early in 2026, as it's release date was previously pushed back, with it originally being set to premiere in 2025. A synopsis for the show reads: "A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. "Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends." Francesca Orsi, HBO's Head of Drama Series and Films, previously teased what to expect, telling Deadline: “You’re going to be so impressed by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg, the two leads, the sort of brotherhood, the paternal nature between Dunk and this young man. “So much so that we’re already planning on how do we build this for the three seasons in total. We’re not picking it up officially, but it’s looking very good. We’re looking at it as a holistic piece, seasons 2 and 3, because there’s three novellas.” It sounds like there will be plenty of trips to Westeros in the near future, then. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be released in January on HBO. House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. If you’re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our dedicated Fantasy hub. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
​​Cillian Murphy finally responds to Voldemort casting rumours for Harry Potter TV series
The evil wizard was previously played by Ralph Fiennes.
Cillian Murphy has shut down speculation that he could portray Lord Voldemort in the new Harry Potter TV series. The Peaky Blinders star has long been rumoured to play the supervillain – who was previously portrayed on the big screen by Ralph Fiennes – in the upcoming HBO show, filming on which began in July. But during an appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, Murphy explained that while his children have shown him the online chatter, there was no truth to it. “I don’t know anything about that,” he said. “Also, it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does. The man is an absolute acting legend, so good luck to whoever’s gonna fill those shoes.” He also joked that he’s “very attached” to his nose, as Voldemort's nose was depicted as flat with two slits for nostrils in the films. Back in December, original Voldemort actor Fiennes gave his blessing to Murphy to take over the infamous character during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live. Asked for his thoughts on the topic, Fiennes responded: “Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah.” Fiennes first appeared as the evil wizard in the fourth Harry Potter film, 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and went on to star in three additional films: Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2. Asked whether he would consider reprising the role, Fiennes told Variety back in 2022 – a year prior to HBO announcing the new TV adaptation – that he would definitely be up for playing Voldemort again and that there was “no question about it”. The majority of the main cast for the upcoming TV series has been announced, including the central trio of Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Other major roles confirmed include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. It’s yet to be confirmed who’ll be taking on the role of Voldemort. Harry Potter author JK Rowling has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall. Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which she insisted that “there are no trans kids” and opposed the idea that a child can be “born in the wrong body”. In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to “individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights”. Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have distanced themselves from Rowling's views and have issued statements supporting the transgender community. Others, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Jim Broadbent, have defended the author from the criticism she has received. The Harry Potter series will begin on HBO in 2027. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
13 ways the Harry Potter TV series could be salvaged – from Peeves to Voldemort's death
The Harry Potter TV series is filming, with one recent casting proving that it will include elements that the films never did. Here's what it needs to do.
When it was announced that HBO was set to remake Harry Potter as a TV series, perhaps the biggest response they received was a baffled: "But why?" For one, the Potter franchise been mired in controversy as a result of JK Rowling's views on the trans community. Rowling has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall. Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which she insisted that “there are no trans kids” and opposed the idea that a child can be “born in the wrong body”. In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to “individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights”. The Harry Potter books have also already been adapted into a massively successful film franchise – and not even that long ago. But, for all our cynicism, the recent announcement that Professor Binns will appear in the series has proven it can at least offer something the films never did – enough time for an in-depth adaptation of the books. After all, the plan is to dedicate a full season of the TV show to each book, allowing around an extra eight hours per book to add back in back stories, scrapped characters, and moments that the films just did not do justice. So, while not everyone is happy about the TV series at all, if it does have to happen, there may be a few ways it can be salvaged for those who make the decision to watch it. Here's how. 1. Add Peeves back in It's the obvious answer for a reason. Peeves was a hugely important character in the Harry Potter books who was unceremoniously cut from the films due to a lack of technology at the time. Comedian and actor Rik Mayall was lined up to play the mischievous poltergeist who's at the heart of every bit of chaos at Hogwarts, but the original film's director Chris Columbus has revealed that his scenes had to be scrapped as no one was happy with how Peeves looked. Peeves was behind some of the funniest moments in the Potter books, and some of the most memorable – including helping Fred and George Weasley's exit from Hogwarts in the Order of the Phoenix. Of course, Mayall sadly died in 2014, meaning another actor would have to step in as Peeves. But now, with time to spare and all the technology available to studios, there's no excuse for not bringing him back. 2. Give Ginny a personality Ginny Weasley was one of the films' biggest failures. Book Ginny was funny, clever, feisty, and an absolute quidditch pro. Film Ginny (played by Bonnie Wright, who should bear none of the blame since she was working with the material she was given) encapsulated very little of this – and it had a huge impact on the films as a whole. Her entire relationship with Harry made little to no sense, with a complete lack of chemistry in the films, whereas the books show a gradual and very organic relationship growing between the pair as they grow up. Plus, her dynamic with the rest of her family suffered. As the only Weasley daughter, Book Ginny completely held her own with her brothers, inheriting Fred and George's mischievous spark. If it has any chance of succeeding, the series needs to get this right. 3. Spend some time with SPEW Justice for the House Elves! One of the most memorable and important storylines for Hermione throughout the books was her concern for House Elf rights, which led to the founding of the one-woman Society for the Prevention of Elfish Welfare (SPEW). Despite the limited success of SPEW, its omission from the films also meant we spent limited time with House Elves that weren't Dobby. The Black family's House Elf Kreacher, for instance, only appeared in a few scenes, and Barty Crouch's House Elf, Winky, who provided a completely different perspective to Dobby, was cut out of the films entirely. Reinstating SPEW into the series would go some way to remedy this, and to expand on a huge part of Hermione's character – her sense of morality and justice, and staying true to what she believes in, even in the face of ridicule. 4. Give us more of Neville's backstory Neville was another character a little hard done by in the films. Despite being played brilliantly by Matthew Lewis, a few key parts of his story were either left out completely, or not explored in as much depth as they should have been. The most prominent one was his parents, Frank and Alice, who were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange. A heartbreaking moment from the books sees Harry and his friends visiting St Mungo's Hospital, where they encounter Neville visiting his parents and realise a little of what he's been going through. It's a huge part of what builds Neville into the character he becomes in Deathly Hallows. Another plot line that was dropped in the movies was the possibility of Neville being the Chosen One, fitting the prophecy of the child being born in July to parents that had defeated Voldemort three times. 5. Actually cast Charlie Weasley Despite having a pretty big role in the books, Charlie Weasley never actually appeared in the film series – apart from in a brief shot of a Weasley family photo. The second-oldest Weasley brother is known for his love of dragons, as well as his quidditch prowess. While he's located in Romania for much of the story, whenever there's a dragon about, Charlie's the one to call. He could feature from the first season onwards, due to the arrival of Norbert, the young Norwegian Ridgeback that Hagrid hatches in his hut in Harry's first year at Hogwarts. 6. No cringey cameos With the confirmation that Warwick Davis will reprise his role as Professor Filius Flitwick, it feels a little like the floodgates are about to open for cameos from the original cast – but this would be a huge mistake. If it has any chance of succeeding, the series has to feel original, and seeing Tom Felton play Lucius Malfoy, for instance, would feel incredibly jarring. The option was there to make a sequel, prequel or spin-off – but if this is a remake, then let's stick to that. 7. Some original visuals Speaking of originality... As original director Columbus pointed out, it was incredibly disheartening to see portraits of Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid in a costume that looks almost identical to the one designed for Robbie Coltrane in the original films. The TV series is a chance to reimagine the books and if they end up being a shot-for-shot remake of the films, there's simply no point. Of course, some elements of the series may be a little hard to change – Harry's appearance, for example. But there's also a huge opportunity to reimagine plenty of the visuals, giving it a different tone and a feel to the films, which would work to justify the choice to remake them in the first place. 8. Character building – and comedy More generally, the films don't have the luxury of building out the characters as much as the books do – or including much of the comedy that's included in them, from Fred and George's constant antics to Mr Weasley's obsession with muggles, from Lee Jordan's quidditch commentary, to McGonagall's sass. With any luck, there'll be plenty of different perspectives in the series, helping us to gain more of an insight into the characters that were a little abandoned in the films, including other students attending Hogwarts alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione. 9. Don't miss out The Marauders On the topic of important book characters that didn't quite make the cut in the films, surely a large amount of time will have to be dedicated to the Marauders. In fact, it could be argued that a Marauders prequel series could have actually made more sense than a straight Harry Potter remake – at least it would have given us something new. However, fans of the big four, James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, may have to settle for seeing some flashbacks as part of the main series. The Marauders were a huge part of the Potter books and inextricably linked to so many events in the main series that the TV version surely will have to do them justice. 10. Let us see more lessons It's not always essential for us to see the ins and outs of a potions lesson or a charms class, but part of the magic of Hogwarts was in fact the stuff that the students would have found pretty boring. The films do strike a balance of showing us the events of lessons that are important to the plot (who could forget Lupin's "Riddikulus" Boggart lesson?) but the series will presumably have the luxury of doing this more often. Plus, as the students grow older, their exams provide a crucial backdrop to life at Hogwarts. 11. Do right by Dumbledore's funeral Dumbledore's death in The Half-Blood Prince was a devastating event that rocked the entire Wizarding World. Of course, in the films, it's given its moment – but Dumbledore's funeral was never seen on screen (although concept art of it was released). The emotional event features wizards from across the country paying their respects in a scene that has the potential to be incredibly cinematic if it is featured on screen in the series. 12. Include Voldemort's backstory We saw plenty of Voldemort/Tom Riddle in the Potter films, but there was still a big element of his character that was cut out completely – his ancestry. We discover that Voldemort is a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin, but was left unaware of the Wizarding World or his heritage after being born in an orphanage. Throughout his teenage years, he learns more about his family – and becomes obsessed with the idea of "pure-blood supremacy", laying the foundation for the monster he would become. 13. Make sense of Voldemort's death One of the biggest failures of the entire Potter film series came at the very end – when we finally witness Voldemort's death. In fact, it sort of misses the point completely. After the destruction of the horcruxes, it becomes possible to kill the wizard that has haunted nightmares for decades. Finally, Harry defeats him and, as he dies, Voldemort simply falls to the ground as any other mortal human would – proving that he's not going to slip away into the night, or be resurrected somehow as he has been time and time again. It finally provides some closure. In the final film, that detail is lost as we see Voldemort's body shredded into pieces after Harry defeats him. It suggests that Voldemort had lost every part of his humanity and overlooks the book's point that, in the end, he too was just a man. The Harry Potter series will stream on HBO Max in 2027. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Harry Potter TV series' Hagrid has key element questioned by original film director: "Part of me was like, what's the point?"
Harry Potter director Chris Columbus, who directed the first two films in the original series, has questioned one big element of the new HBO series. First-look photos of key characters have been shared by HBO, with the cast and crew also being spotted on location in busy London spots like King's Cross station (where else?!). But, while new cast members are taking on the familiar characters, many have noticed that the costumes – particularly Nick Frost's getup as the half-giant Hagrid – look incredibly similar to the films. Hagrid was originally played by Robbie Coltrane, who sported a long brown overcoat for the role, complete with long curly hair and a long beard. Speaking on The Rest is Entertainment podcast, Columbus pointed out the similarity in Frost's costume: "As of yesterday, I saw photographs online of Nick Frost as Hagrid. "Now, that’s not Nick Frost – that’s presumably still Martin [Bayfield]...a rugby player who played Hagrid with a giant sort of fake rubber Hagrid head that we sometimes replaced with CGI. "So I’m seeing these photographs of, now it looks like Martin – I could be wrong – wearing a Nick Frost head, walking down the streets of London. And he’s wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid." He added: "Part of me was like, what’s the point? Part of me was like, okay, great. I thought everything was going to be different, but it’s more of the same, which is interesting. "It’s very flattering for me because that’s exactly the Hagrid costume that we designed. So part of it is really exciting – I’m excited to see what they’re going to do with it. But part of it is sort of déjà vu all over again.” The new TV series, which is expected to be released in 2027, is expected to reimagine the wizarding world, with each season focusing on a different book from JK Rowling's wildly popular series. Columbus, who has said he doesn't want to be involved in the reboot, recently opened up to Radio Times magazine about the scenes he wishes he could have included in the films, explaining: “I missed the fact that I was never able to put Peeves in the first film.” He added: “Plus, there is a scene in the first book, Philosopher’s Stone, where Hermione and Harry are tasting potions in one of the challenges, and one of them could die at any moment. “It's like this incredible chess match that we just did not have time to shoot. So hopefully those scenes will be reinstated [in the series]. They have 10 hours. I hope they use them well.” Harry Potter author Rowling has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall. Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which she insisted that “there are no trans kids” and opposed the idea that a child can be “born in the wrong body”. In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to “individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights”. Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have distanced themselves from Rowling's views and have issued statements supporting the transgender community. Others, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Jim Broadbent, have defended the author from the criticism she has received. Watch or listen to The Rest Is Entertainment wherever you get your podcasts. The Harry Potter series will air on HBO in 2027. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Former EastEnders star Zack Morris lands role in critically acclaimed US medical drama
The star departed from EastEnders back in 2022.
HBO’s hit medical drama The Pitt has made an exciting addition to its second season, with former EastEnders star Zack Morris set to join the cast. According to Deadline, Morris has joined the team as Jackson Davis, a patient brought to the ED after an outburst in the college library. From creator R Scott Gemmill (ER, NCIS: Los Angeles), The Pitt follows a team of doctors and nurses as they navigate a host of challenges in a Pittsburgh hospital emergency room, with the action unfolding in real time. Noah Wyle leads the cast of the series as Dr Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch, while Katherine LaNasa, Shawn Hatosy, Taylor Dearden, Patrick Ball, Isa Briones, Fiona Dourif, Supriya Ganesh, Shabana Azeez and Gerran Howell also star. Alongside Morris, other new additions to season 2 include Sepideh Moafi as a series regular, and Laëtitia Hollard, Lucas Iverson, Charles Baker, Irene Choi and Lawrence Robinson in recurring roles. Gemmill previously revealed that the second season will pick up 10 months after the events of season 1's finale and take place over "Fourth of July weekend" during a day-long shift. "Nine, basically 10 months later gives a lot of room for us to have developed a few stories in the interim, and catch up with everyone," she told TV Line. Season 2 is currently in production and is set air in January 2026. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Harry Potter TV series confirms further major castings with Weasley family
The stars of the Weasley family have been confirmed.
HBO's Harry Potter TV series has now found its Weasley family, with it being confirmed just who is who in the iconic red-haired clan. It had previously been confirmed that Dominic McLaughlin will be leading the cast as Harry Potter, along with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Well, joining Stout in the Weasley household will be on-screen siblings Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley. Real-life twins Tristan and Gabriel Harland have starred in multiple episodes of ITV's The Last Kingdom, while Spooner has starred in a short film and Cochrane has had various roles on stage. This, of course, marks a big milestone for the young actors, who will be seen in the anticipated series that is due for release in 2027. They join previously announced cast members including young actors Rory Wilmot and Amos Kitson, who are set to play Neville Longbottom and Dudley Dursley, respectively. Sherlock's Louise Brealey will play Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Andor's Anton Lesser will play Garrick Ollivander, whilst other notable casting includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy. The series will be written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, whilst Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros Television. Read more: Harry Potter TV series first-look image released of new star as new cast members confirmed Harry Potter icon calls out "racist" objections to Professor Snape casting for TV series Harry Potter author JK Rowling has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall. Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which she insisted that "there are no trans kids" and opposed the idea that a child can be "born in the wrong body". In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to "individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights". Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have distanced themselves from Rowling's views and have issued statements supporting the transgender community. Others, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Jim Broadbent, have defended the author from the criticism she has received. The Harry Potter series will stream on HBO Max. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Industry star reveals whether controversial character will return for season 4 after explosive third season
Will Kenny be returning to our screens any time soon?
Now starring in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, Conor MacNeill is swapping the suits of Pierpoint & Co for the 18th century in his new role as Ned Gowan. While this new and exciting role sees MacNeill bring the earlier years of Ned's story to life in Blood of My Blood, there's no denying that many TV fans will widely recognise MacNeill for his stint as the ever-controversial Kenny Kilbane in BBC and HBO's Industry. Kenny, who featured in all three seasons of the show, certainly went through quite the character arc. But with MacNeill having not been announced as part of the main cast for season 4, was that due to filming commitments for Outlander's spin-off series, or did Kenny's story finish up with season 3? We posed the question to MacNeill in an exclusive chat ahead of the release of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, with the actor revealing to RadioTimes.com: "Kenny's gone from Pierpoint – at the end of season 3, Pierpoint is gone itself. I don’t know is the God's honest truth. It felt very explosive." He continued: "I would work in Industry forever, it's such a brilliant team of people to work with. But the great thing about Industry is how cutthroat it is because that's the truth of that world, right? "And so those storylines – like where that happened, it felt so right. It also felt like Kenny deserved it a bit as well. It's like, you can't get away with your s**t. You get called in at some point. But also, his life had changed and I think the toxicity of Pierpoint ... he didn't gel there as well as he did in the beginning because he wasn't playing by the rules anymore. I think that's that world." While it doesn't look as though MacNeill will be seen as Kenny for the foreseeable, he did enjoy the role – despite it also coming with its fair share of "icky headspaces", he says. Read more: Outlander: Blood of My Blood star says Caitríona Balfe has been an "unbelievable support" with series James Norton spotted on set of Grantchester's final season – is Sidney Chambers returning? "I love digging into him and I just love working on Industry, it’s an absolute joy to do that job and acting with Marisa Abela is the greatest gift anyone could ever be given. It was very much a real reason why I wanted to do this show and it's such a relief to just be nice for a bit or to be morally conscious of yourself." As for season 4, which has currently wrapped filming, MacNeill is excited to be a fan, lapping up the expected twists and turns to come. "Oh, I'm so excited," he admits. "I thought season 3 was phenomenal. It took a huge step up in scale or something, it just felt so big. The themes felt epic and the storylines were really, really gripping." He added: "I'm really excited to see where season 4 goes because they've got an entirely clean slate with Pierpoint being gone. And look, these people are ruthless. I think Harper Stern and Eric Tao and Yasmin – I just love watching those characters, I could watch them all day. I have no idea where it goes, but it will be an amazing watch, no doubt because Mickey [Down] and Konrad [Kay] are such clever writers." The new season of Industry also won't include the likes of Harry Lawtey as Robert Spearing, but does boast the likes of Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton, Claire Forlani (Departure) and Kal Penn (Designated Survivor), as well as The Handmaid's Tale star Max Minghella, The Last Showgirl's Kiernan Shipka, and The Serial Killer's Wife's Jack Farthing, as well as Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso) and Amy James-Kelly (Coronation Street). They join returning main cast members Marisa Abela, Myha'la, Ken Leung, Sagar Radia, Miriam Petche and Kit Harington, who all reprise their roles for another expectedly tense instalment. Industry is on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The drama airs on HBO in the US. Outlander: Blood of My Blood releases episodes weekly every Saturday on MGM+ in the UK and on Fridays on Starz in the US. You can buy Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books on Amazon. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Last of Us season 3 confirmed to have major creative shake-up behind the scenes – where does this leave new episodes?
Neil Druckmann has officially stepped back from the HBO series.
It seems like just yesterday that The Last of Us fans were reeling from the events of the season 2 finale and also finding out that the upcoming third season will focus on Kaitlyn Dever's Abby. After all, it was co-creator Neil Druckmann who had officially confirmed the season 3 direction just last month. Well now, in surprising news for all, Druckmann has stepped back creatively from the HBO series along with executive producer and writer Halley Gross, who has exited the show. Druckmann released a statement on the official Instagram account for Naughty Dog (the PlayStation-owned video game studio behind The Last of Us franchise), which read: “I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO. “With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative.” He continued: “Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. It’s been an honour to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons. "I’m deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.” Druckmann co-created and directed the original Naughty Dog video game, but has been an integral part of the behind-the-scenes team in bringing the game to life for TV. According to Deadline, he will not write or direct any season 3 episodes but will continue to serve as co-creator and executive producer on the series. As for where that leaves the creative direction of the HBO series, it's anybody's guess at the moment. With a dedicated behind-the-scenes team that are passionate about sticking true to the game but leaving enough room for the ways in which the TV show could evolve and stray from the original plot line, we're sure the series will continue to live up to its potential. Some fans have criticised the way in which season 2 was handled, not least due to the early season 2 death of Pedro Pascal's Joel. The Last of Us Part II game focus being on Abby proved controversial at the time of its release and will undoubtedly follow suit for the series, so it remains to be seen how that will be handled in light of Druckmann's exit. Fans have flocked to social media ideating about the direction of season 3, with plenty commenting on Druckmann's statement saying that they feel as though season 3 is now "doomed". Druckmann worked alongside Craig Mazin to ensure that the game was appropriately brought to life for TV and so, naturally, many fans are beginning to wonder whether it will retain that same game DNA. On the announcement of Druckmann's creative step back on the series, Mazin said in a statement: “It’s been a creative dream to work with Neil and bring an adaptation of his brilliant work to life on HBO. I couldn’t have asked for a more generous creative partner. As a true fan of Naughty Dog and Neil’s work in video games, I’m beyond excited to play his next game. "While he focuses on that, I’ll continue to work with our brilliant cast and crew to deliver the show our audience has come to expect. We are so grateful to Neil and Halley Gross for entrusting the incredible story of The Last of Us Part II to us, and we’re just as grateful to the millions of people around the world who tune in.” Read more: The Last of Us star to lead new "darkly comedic" Channel 4 thriller series from Breeders favourite WandaVision creator tipped for Prime Video series based on wildly popular fantasy romance books Druckmann's departure isn't the only one, though, with executive producer and writer Halley Gross also exiting the show. Gross co-wrote The Last of Us Part II game with Druckmann and seeing as season 3 of the HBO show will be continuing on the story of the second game, many fans are now understandably thinking about just how the series will flesh out that story. In her own statement posted to her Instagram, Gross wrote:“With great care and consideration, I’ve decided to take a step back from my day-to-day work on HBO’s The Last of Us to make space for what comes next. “I’m so appreciative of how special this experience has been. Working alongside Neil, Craig, HBO, and this remarkable cast and crew has been life changing. The stories we told – about love, loss, and what it means to be human in a terrifying world – are exactly why I love this franchise. I have some truly rad projects ahead that I can’t wait to share, but for now, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who brought Ellie and Joel’s world to life with such care.” With Mazin having already expressed interest in wanting to continue the HBO series for a total of four seasons, the potential of The Last of Us series is definitely vast – but we'll just have to wait and see how things will unfold without the original game's Druckmann and Gross at its helm. The Last of Us season 2 is streaming on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
House of the Dragon season 3: Release date speculation, cast and plot news
Keep up with the Targaryens with our House of Dragon season 3 guide.
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for all episodes of House of the Dragon season 2.* House of the Dragon season 3 is still far enough away to make us long for it with all our being. That said, there are still plenty of much-appreciated updates regarding the show circling, with new information being released about production, scripts, new characters and more. For example, the latest is that House of the Dragon's third season is officially in production, with the cast having recently received a new batch of scripts for some of the episodes. In other news, fresh cast announcements have arrived. According to Variety, Happy Valley star James Norton is reportedly set to play key character Ormund Hightower. Ormund is the nephew of Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) and will be seen leading a march on King's Landing against Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as the war continues to heat up. Read on for everything you need to know about House of the Dragon season 3 and the future of the Targaryen dynasty, and, most importantly, make sure to check back regularly as we'll be updating this guide with more information as it gets revealed. House of the Dragon season 3 release date speculation While there's no confirmed release date for Season 3 at this early stage, we estimate an early to mid-2026 release date. We do know that season 3 is currently being written and production is under way, having started back in March 2025. In February 2025, stars Matt Smith and Fabien Frankel said during a panel at MegaCon in Florida that they had received scripts for the fourth, fifth and sixth episodes of season 3. This means that everything seems to be progressing in line with the planned schedule. As any Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon fan knows, the scale of the HBO series is absolutely epic, and it takes a long time to put together. House of the Dragon was renewed for season 3 in June 2024, before season 2 had even been released, demonstrating tremendous faith in the Thrones spin-off. Who will be in the cast of House of the Dragon season 3? Currently, we'd expect the following cast members to return for House of the Dragon season 3. Matt Smith as King Consort Daemon Targaryen Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen Olivia Cooke as Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister and Ser Tyland Lannister Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers Tom Bennett as Ulf White Sir Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong Oscar Eskinazi as Prince Joffrey Velaryon Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne Amanda Collin as Lady Jeyne Arryn Abigail Thorn as Admiral Lohar TBC as Daeron Targaryen James Norton as Ormund Hightower In terms of new arrivals, it's been revealed that James Norton will be joining the cast as Ormund Hightower, and we can expect some other new additions to be announced in due course. One character we do know for sure that we're going to meet in season 3 is the long-awaited Daeron Targaryen, Aegon and Aemond's brother! Asked in a recent press conference whether we would finally meet him, Condal confirmed with a "yes" – although the actor to play him has not yet been cast, to our knowledge. He also referenced the Targaryen brothers when speaking about Helaena's storyline, adding: "The decision to expand Helaena’s character was that we, were fascinated by Alicent’s family and Aegon and Aemond, and certainly at some point in the story, even Daeron – the beloved, anticipated Daeron – get a lot of the screen time and the storytelling time because they're the males, they're the dragon riding warriors. "But Helena was always fascinating to us because she was a bit of a tabula rasa, as described in the book." Elsewhere, many viewers were excited at the prospect of seeing Nettles, a fan-favourite character from the books who claims the dragon Sheepstealer, appear in season 2. For now, though, her story has been conflated with that of Princess Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), which has left many fans disappointed. However, during a press conference, Condal hinted that we might still see her in future. When asked about whether Nettles has been fully written out of the show, he responded: "I think that's a, ‘Please stay tuned and keep watching the story.’ I will say that we love Rhaena as a character, and we've really done a lot of legwork to set her up from the beginning as somebody in this Targaryen household who does not have a dragon." View Affiliate Playlist on the source website He added: "I think the Rhaena story, as we're seeing it unfold, is potentially one of those interesting interpretations that we have to offer. And I would just say that we don't do any stuff lightly or without thought. Many of these things we've planned many seasons in advance. So I would just say, you know, buckle up and take the ride with us. And hopefully you like the destination it's going to." Meanwhile, in the final episode, we met a new character in the form of a gender-swapped Admiral Lohar, played by Abigail Thorn. We'd certainly expect her and other characters introduced this season to return for more. As for returning faces, we'd certainly expect most of the Targaryen clan to be back in business as we head towards season 3. The final episodes of the season have also placed greater emphasis on the dragonseeds, or the Targaryen bastards, including Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) and Ulf White (Tom Bennett), so we'd expect them to take on a bigger role going forward. In the finale, we also saw Joshua Ben-Tovim appear in a vision to Daemon Targaryen as Ser Brynden Rivers, AKA Lord Bloodraven. Could we see more from him in the future? One character we're not expecting to see back, however, is the Queen Who Never Was, Rhaenys Targaryen (played by Eve Best). In a shocking and brutal episode 4, the beloved character was killed off in a fiery clash with Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), who also left his own brother, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), badly wounded. While fans were also excited to see the appearance of Blood and Cheese, played by Sam C Wilson and Mark Stobbart, we're certainly not expecting to see them back for any more either. Similarly, episode 1 saw the brutal death of a young Jaehaerys Targaryen, the eldest son of Aegon Targaryen. That said, we're also not ruling out flashback scenes – especially after the shock returns of season 2. Fans were stunned to see the return of Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra and Paddy Considine as the late King Viserys as part of Daemon Targaryen's visions. Could old cast members be back for more? We could also see the arrival of even more Targaryen children, as some of them haven't been born yet, including Aegon's younger son, Prince Maelor, who, in the book, had a role to play in the Blood and Cheese storyline. In the show, however, Condal reasoned that, due to shortened timelines, Maelor couldn't be born yet. Condal explained to RadioTimes.com: "In our writing of season 1, we had to compress time a bit to get through 30 years of history, essentially, in what ended up being 20 years, just so that we didn't have to recast every character. "I think as time marches on longer and longer, it becomes more challenging to tell all that story in one season, and season 1 was a challenge in and of itself. "So, essentially, we made 30 years happen in 20 years, and that just meant some of the youngest kids in the story weren't around, or were younger than they are in the books – Rhaenyra and Daemon's children, for one, and then certainly Helaena and Aegon. Maelor is not yet in the narrative in this, in the story, so that was a change." That might suggest the new generation of Targaryen children is on the way in season 3, but take this with a pinch of salt until it's officially confirmed. What could House of the Dragon season 3 be about? We don't know all the specifics of the plot of season 3 just yet, but we'd expect it to continue to follow Martin's book Fire & Blood – albeit with some deviations along the way, as we've seen in season 1 and season 2. However, there are certain book events we're expecting to see. Look away now if you don't want to see any book spoilers! Speaking in the post-episode featurette, Condal said: "While this season was very much about the fits and starts of an early medieval war, season three is clearly going to be about total war." We're expecting to see the highly anticipated Battle of the Gullet, a brutal and bloody sea battle that many fans had been anticipating in season 2. Asked about why he postponed showing it, Condal said it's down to balancing the number of big events we have in each season. He said: "We were trying to give the Gullet, which is maybe the second most anticipated event of Fire and Blood, the time and the space that it deserves. And obviously, as anybody that's seen the finale knows, we're building to that, that event will happen very shortly in terms of the storytelling of House of the Dragon. "Based on what we know now, it should be the biggest thing to date that we’ve pulled off. And we just wanted to have the time, the space to do that at a level that is going to excite and satisfy the fans and in the way it’s deserved." Judging from where we leave off in season 2, we're also expecting Rhaenyra to take her rightful place on the Iron Throne in season 3. Showrunner Ryan Condal previously told RadioTimes.com of future seasons: "There's a history that marches on for decades after this. So it's not about ending the Targaryen history. It's just finding the place to close the curtain on this particular time… "We're trying to find the satisfying television ending or the conclusion where we can leave everybody knowing that time marches on from here, but we've brought this dramatic story to a close. "So, I think that's become very clear as we've just gotten farther down the timeline. But I'm not ready to yet talk about how many episodes or seasons are left. "But I think the nice thing is we know where we're going, we have all the material that we need, because the book is written and hopefully we can bring this to a satisfying conclusion." Meanwhile, Emma D'Arcy told IGN: "Oh my God, by the end of season 2, I was a f**king shell of myself. "I was a husk. I could not form a sentence. I was so tired. I need to implement some way of getting through season 3, if there’s a season 3, to really harness as much energy as possible. It is a behemoth." How many episodes could House of the Dragon season 3 consist of? House of the Dragon season 3 does not yet have a confirmed episode count, but, from Condal's recent comments, we'd expect it to have eight episodes. When asked about season 3's episode count at a press conference, the showrunner said: "Without saying anything, because I haven't had discussions with HBO about it, I would just anticipate the cadence of the show from a dramatic storytelling perspective will continue to be the same from season 2 on." Season 1 consisted of 10 episodes, while season 2 consisted of eight episodes. In terms of episode length, we'd again expect the episodes to range from 50 to 70 minutes, depending on how much needs to be covered in one particular episode. Season 2 episode 8 was the show's longest episode yet, with the finale clocking in at 73 minutes. How many seasons of House of the Dragon will there be? House of the Dragon will have four seasons before concluding, as Condal mentioned at the recent press conference. That means we're currently halfway through the show's run. Is there a trailer for House of the Dragon season 3? Not yet! We'll keep this page updated with any footage that comes our way. In the meantime, why not check out what the stars had to say about season 2? View oEmbed on the source website House of the Dragon season 2 airs on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Last of Us season 3: Release date speculation and latest news
The hit series is officially returning for more.
*Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us season 2.* It's official: The Last of Us season 3 will focus on Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, it has now been revealed. While fans had a pretty good idea where the series was heading after season 2 drew to an end, co-creator Neil Druckmann has officially confirmed the season 3 direction. Speaking at the Emmy's FYC event, Druckmann revealed: "I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way, meaning, like, we just ended season 2, and season 3 is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn." He continued: "I was sure that they wouldn’t let us do this when we started adapting this, but they’ve leaned into what makes, I believe, the story special. And allowed us not only the time but the creative freedom to be able to take these swings, and I think the audience really appreciates that." The dramatic finale did end with the focus shifting from Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to Abby as she was roused from sleeping by Manny, with a Seattle Day One title card appearing on screen – revealing that we will be following Abby's journey in season 3, as is the case part way through the second game. Now that it's officially been confirmed, fans have naturally started to wonder if we'll be seeing any of Ramsey in season 3 at all, with the actor recently setting the record straight. Speaking to Variety, Ramsey explained: "I think that I’m going to be there, but not a whole bunch. We’ve had conversations about that." They went on to say that they expect their screen time will be reduced so that the story can focus on Abby, adding: "I sort of have a rough idea of what it’s going to be, but I can’t tell you." But when will The Last of Us season 3 be released? Read on to find out everything we know so far. The Last of Us season 3 release date speculation A release date for The Last of Us season 3 has not yet been confirmed. For fans who are desperate for the next chapter, unfortunately it doesn't look like it will be arriving anytime soon. Of course, there was quite the lengthy gap between seasons 1 and 2, with season 1 being released in January 2023 and season 2 following all the way in April 2025. That said, season 2 was impacted by the writers' and actors' strikes, so the wait between seasons 2 and 3 could be shorter, but we'll just have to wait and see. Filming is yet to kick off, and series star Isabella Merced has already admitted in an interview with Variety that she doesn't know when production on season 3 is due to start, but thinks "it should be next year". If season 3 production were to kick off in 2026, we could potentially be looking at a release date of early 2027. How many episodes will there be in The Last of Us season 3? As of now, an episode count for season 3 has not yet been revealed. However, co-creator Craig Mazin has said that the third season will likely be longer in length than season 2. Season 1 consisted of nine episodes and so fans were surprised with season 2's 7-episode run. Could we be going back up to 9 or even more? As of now, nothing else has been revealed, but Mazin did explain the thought process, telling Collider: "There are natural perforations in the narrative where you can go, “Okay, let’s tear it here.” I think there’s a decent chance that season 3 will be longer than season 2, just because the manner of that narrative and the opportunities it affords us are a little different. "The thing about Joel’s death is that it’s so impactful. It’s such a narrative nuclear bomb that it’s hard to wander away from it. We can’t really take a break and move off to the side and do a Bill and Frank story. I’m not sure that will necessarily be true for season 3. I think we’ll have a little more room there. "But certainly, there’s no way to complete this narrative in a third season. Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome." The Last of Us season 3 cast: Who will return? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/05/0401TheLastofUsS02-13f8285-e1746187467646.jpg" width="3245" height="2160" alt="Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) in The Last of Us season 2, standing side by side outdoors in a post-apocalyptic setting. Both have tense, concerned expressions as they look offscreen. Ellie wears a dark purple t-shirt, revealing a fern tattoo on her right forearm, while Dina wears a rust-colored button-up shirt over a light tank top. The background includes weathered brick and concrete walls overgrown with greenery." title="Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) in The Last of Us season 2" /> Seeing as the third season of The Last of Us has already been confirmed as being about Abby, Kaitlyn Dever will be taking on a lead role in the upcoming instalment. Introduced in season 2 as Ellie's antagonist and Joel's murderer, there's certainly plenty more of the story to flesh out from the original games and from her perspective. At one point it seemed as though we might not see Ellie at all in season 3, but Mazin has now confirmed we haven't seen the last of her, and it now seems as though we will see Ellie and Dina, just in a diminished role. Meanwhile, there were three major deaths in the finale – Young Mazino's Jesse (killed by Abby), Spencer Lord's Owen and Ariela Barer's Mel (both killed by Ellie). This is in addition to Tati Gabrielle's Nora, who died in the previous episode. However, due to the nature of the narrative jumping back in time to follow Abby, and armed with the knowledge of what happens in the game, we'd definitely expect the characters to return for season 3. Barer has already confirmed she'll be back, telling Collider: "I'm so excited to keep working with the WLF crew and Jeffrey Wright, who I've not worked with yet, but have met. He's awesome. "There are little secrets that Craig has planted that I'm very excited to watch be extended. I won’t elaborate more." However, Catherine O'Hara has confirmed that Mazin already told her she won't be in season 3 and, of course, neither will Joe Pantoliano, who starred as her on-screen husband Eugene – barring any unexpected flashbacks. We also wouldn't have expected to see more of Pedro Pascal's Joel, but Mazin hasn't ruled out an appearance. He told TVLine: "All I can say is we haven’t seen the last of Kaitlyn Dever, and we haven’t seen the last of Bella Ramsey, and we haven’t seen the last of Isabela Merced, and we haven’t seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead in the story. "So I guess the short answer to that question that everyone is asking is: No, I’m not answering." Druckmann added: "I’ll give a bit more, which is: Whether you will see them on screen or not, their presence will be there throughout." The cast we'd expect to return for The Last of Us season 3 are as follows: Kaitlyn Dever as Abby Bella Ramsey as Ellie Isabela Merced as Dina Gabriel Luna as Tommy Danny Ramirez as Manny Young Mazino as Jesse Tati Gabrielle as Nora Ariela Barer as Mel Spencer Lord as Owen Jeffrey Wright as Isaac Alanna Ubach as Hanrahan What will The Last of Us season 3 be about? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/04/doom-timeline-1-b95b0de.png" width="1600" height="1066" alt="In the woods, a group of people with brown cloaks are travelling in silence. The women have halo braids and the men have shaved heads. They all have scars on their cheeks. In the front, a man is holding a little ginger girl's hand." title="The Seraphites in The Last of Us season 2" /> In an interview with Variety, Catherine O'Hara was the first to directly confirm that season 3 is "the Abby story", with the show's co-showrunners since having also confirmed the season 3 focus. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter of this narrative shift, co-showrunner Craig Mazin recently said: "I don’t think television is supposed to work like this. We’re clearly breaking quite a few rules, and I love that. And I love it because that is the point. "This is not something we’re doing as a gimmick. The point of this story — and this is looked at from so many different angles in so many different ways — is that the entire concept of protagonist is flawed. The entire concept of villain is flawed. Our way of processing the world through heroes and villains is a mistake. "It ends up creating these barriers between people that shouldn’t be there. It ends up giving ourselves justifications and conveniences for bad behaviour, and it ends up allowing us to judge others summarily for things that we don’t quite understand the motivation behind it. We know this is a challenging thing to keep track of emotionally. "We understand people are going to be provoked. But part of this story is about examining why we’re so comfortable with following one person’s point of view about everything." Mazin has also said that piecing together the story for season 3 feels much like a puzzle, telling Collider: "It’s never easy. We’re now confronting all the same challenges for season 3. They’re fun challenges... But all those decisions get made before I start writing. "We have a master plan and we understand how everything works. That way, when you see things happening in this episode, you understand they’re connected back to the very first episode. It's a holistic thing." As for the way that things end in season 2, it was all intentional to set up season 3, according to Mazin. He revealed: "Now, we’re actually in more of a traditional cliffhanger-y mode, where you’re telling a story, and then you end the season with something that says, 'Whoa, this is going to change a whole bunch of things, and we’ll see you when we get back and pick it up from there.' "We ask ourselves a lot of questions and we think about what we ought to do when we think about what the narrative that exists affords us and that we should do. I’m always thinking about, what are the things that only The Last of Us does? Let’s do those as much as we can. "And then, you go for it and you make your decisions and mostly just try as best as you can to think about the audience experience and how they’re going to feel when they arrive at the end of something. Hopefully, we set them up to want to return when we come back for the next run." Mazin also teased that more "information will be coming" about the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) and the Seraphites, both of whom are introduced and seen throughout season 2 but do lack a bit of context. "No, you haven’t gotten all the information you deserve. Yes, the information will be coming. We did this all by design," Mazin says. As for whether we'll continue to see how Ellie's story plays out alongside all of this, it remains to seen how much of it we'll see, but we would assume the show will continue to explore Ellie's life in the wake of Joel's death and her relationship with Dina. Is there a trailer for The Last of Us season 3? Not yet! Seeing as production on season 3 hasn't yet kicked off, there's no trailer right now. Watch this space, though. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Last of Us season 2 is streaming on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Will there be The Penguin season 2? Latest news and speculation
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Penguin episode 8.* While it was one of the standout shows of the previous year, the future of The Penguin still very much remains up in the air. And with the note that things ended on in season 1, series star Colin Farrell had admitted that it may be hard for his protagonist to come back from such a surprise turn of events. Having murdered Vic (Rhenzy Feliz) in the finale, Farrell told The Hollywood Reporter: "I certainly think it makes [a second season] more difficult. [Killing Vic] is a very hard thing to claw back from. It’s not impossible, but it’s a tougher hill to climb." It's certainly a valid point to remember, but does that mean we could be seeing more of Cristin Milioti's Sofia instead? While nothing has yet been confirmed, Milioti remains excited about whatever shape her character's future takes, whether in another season of The Penguin, The Batman II or in her own spin-off series. Speaking of the future of Sofia, Milioti said: "I would love to continue to play Sofia in any way. I would also love to see Sofia and Selina team up and wreak complete and utter havoc on Gotham. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that in the Batman universe." The star's comments come after showrunner Lauren LeFranc said that the future of the series very much rests on whether or not there's more to add to the story. Planned as a limited series, LeFranc said on Deadline's Crew Call podcast: "Beyond Colin (Farrell), it depends on whether there’s a story that we can make richer than what we’ve already done." She added: "I fully arced everything... I’m in the process of exploring what that would be, if there will be more." But what else do we know about the potential for The Penguin to return for a season 2? Here's everything we know so far. Will there be The Penguin season 2? Currently, there's no confirmation as to whether there will be The Penguin season 2, but we wouldn't rule it out. Speaking to RadioTimes.com in 2024, actor Farrell said that, while the show was originally planned as a limited series, he would "absolutely" be up for more. He said: "It was only ever envisioned as an eight-hour limited series, but it's gone pretty well and I would imagine when things tend to go well, people tend to want to revisit them. "If they came up with an amazing way to do another eight hours, and if it fit in primarily to Matt Reeves's vision, because this whole show really had to work with being born of The Batman film and also being kind of a cartilage to the second film, which I haven't read yet... "Matt's the wizard of this whole universe. So Lauren LeFranc [showrunner] and her team of writers, myself, Mike Marino [makeup/prosthetic artist], when we were deciding that the Penguin would look the way he did, we all have to be in step with what Matt's vision is. "So if Matt wants to do a second season, for sure, I'd consider it, yeah. [But] by the end of this I'd had my fill! I know I was bitching about not having enough in the first film, but I'm good now. I've been at the table for long enough. It was amazing, but it's quite a thing." Showrunner LeFranc has also been opening up about the potential of a second season. She told The Direct: "I mean, we put it all out on the table. I think that in order to do a second season, we have to feel like we can top ourselves. We have to feel like there's something more there to really dig into. I mean, I really care about all these characters, even if they're terrible people." She added: "It's been a joy to write them, even though they're twisted and complicated and weird and darkly funny. So look, I think Gotham City is just such a fun sandbox to play, and I'd love to keep playing in it, but I think it just has to be the right thing. We should never do anything just to do it." Meanwhile, Matt Reeves told The Hollywood Reporter that "everything is on the table" regarding a potential season 2 or a Sofia spin-off. "But at the end of the day, we feel like there are more stories to tell in this world," he said. "So me and Lauren and [producer Dylan Clark] and Colin are talking and we’re trying to figure out whatever it is, it has to dig into this in a way that feels earned the way this was. "I wasn’t ever interested in starting this thing to go, 'We just want to do stuff with the Penguin.' What can we do that feels fresh? This idea of introducing Sofia was specifically about the way she was existing in this patriarchal world and in a way that makes you surprisingly start to root for her even though she is the antagonist to Oz. "Then you realise, oh, they’re both so messed up. This whole world is messed up. And Cristin is so incredible." In December 2024, Cristin Milioti told The Hollywood Reporter: "All I can say is that it is my wildest hope [to play Sofia Falcone again]. It’s my wildest hope, and I couldn’t be any clearer about making my desire known. But I haven’t heard anything concrete yet." In January 2025, executive producer Dylan Clark told TVLine that "if we could come up with an idea for what a second season might be, there’s a chance that [HBO CEO] Casey Bloys and the HBO team would want to pursue that", admitting there have been "quiet conversations about that". However, things started to look less positive in February 2025, when DC boss Peter Safran admitted to Deadline that "there’s a lot of moving pieces, including Colin (Farrell) himself" when it comes to more seasons of The Penguin, while Farrell later sounded unsure about returning in an interview with Variety. Farrell told the publication of a potential season 2: "I don’t want it. I don’t not want it. We all left it in the ring in those eight hours. I would hate to, just because of a quote-unquote success, have to go again and for it to be a diluted version of what people seem to feel it is, majoritively. "So I’m in no rush. I have no deep desire to do it. Sure, if they think of something that works in conjunction as a parallel to Matt Reeves’ cinematic universe and it’s a good idea, I’m open to it. But it’s not something concerning me." At this point, it seems it's all up in the air - so watch this space! View Affiliate Playlist on the source website When could a potential The Penguin season 2 be released? If The Penguin does get renewed for a season 2, we'd expect a long wait ahead, perhaps for a release date in 2027. It's clearly just an idea at this point, and it would require as lengthy a production period as season 1 did. It's also likely that the studio would want to release The Batman: Part II first, as The Penguin's finale episode should lead nicely into it. Season 1 had a long road to release after all. Development was underway by September 2021 but, as many other productions did, its filming faced a delay due to the Hollywood labour disputes. Filming concluded in February 2024, with the show being released in October 2024. Who could be in the cast of a potential The Penguin season 2? We'd expect some of the cast of season 1 to return if the series is confirmed for season 2 – with some notable exceptions of people who didn't make it to the end. This is your last spoiler warning! Key cast members who could return include: Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb/Penguin Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone Theo Rossi as Julian Rush If Rossi does return, then don't expect him to take on the mantle of Batman villain the Scarecrow, as had been theorised by some fans - LeFranc has explicitly ruled that out. Of course, a fair few figures didn't make it to the end of season 1, most prominently Rhenzy Feliz as Victor Aguilar, who was killed by Oz in the season 1 finale. Michael Zegen's Alberto Falcone was also killed early on in the season. Episode 4 was an absolute blood bath, with Sofia Falcone killing much of her family in the gas spill. Plus, while Francis Cobb, Oz's mother, played by Deirdre O' Connell, made it to the end of the series alive, she was left in a vegetative state and permanently bedbound. In season 2, we could potentially see the appearance of: Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/The Batman Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman While Pattinson and Kravitz did not appear in season 1, the door has possibly been left open for their arrivals in season 2. What could the plot of a potential The Penguin season 2 be? Details are thin on the ground currently about what the plot of The Penguin could be, but we'd expect to pick up with Oz after he's won the city and has become its kingpin, following his rise through the ranks of Gotham's underworld. We'd also expect to follow Sofia Falcone as she meets her half-sister, Selina Kyle. The Penguin is available to watch on Sky and NOW. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Harry Potter TV series confirms Rivals and The Morning Show stars in iconic roles as nine castings revealed
The upcoming series has cast the Malfoys, the Dursleys and a Weasley.
HBO’s Harry Potter TV series continues to expand its cast, and now nine more stars have been revealed – and there are big names from series including Rivals and The Morning Show. Lox Pratt (Lord of the Flies) has been cast as Draco Malfoy, while Johnny Flynn (The Outfit, Stardust) will star as Draco’s father, Lucius Malfoy. Cast as Hogwarts pupils are Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil and Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown. Additionally, Katherine Parkinson (IT Crowd, Rivals) has been cast as Molly Weasley and Bertie Carvel (The Sister) as Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, while Bel Powley (A Small Light) will play Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby (Flowers) will star as Vernon Dursley. Fans of the book will recall that the Dursleys reluctantly take Harry in after his parents’ deaths, making him live in a cupboard under the stairs. Their son, Dudley, is yet to be cast. The new stars join previously announced cast members John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. The three stars set to play the iconic trio Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were also previously announced, with newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout set to take on the roles. The new series is set to land on our screens in 2027, with cameras due to start rolling in mid-summer 2025. Warner Bros Discovery first announced the project back in 2023, revealing that the TV series will be based on all seven books penned by JK Rowling, published between 1997 and 2007, with the first season set to adapt the first novel. As per the show's synopsis by HBO: "The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for. "The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years." It continued: "Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally." The Harry Potter series will stream on Max. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release date speculation and latest news
Another era in Westeros history is set to be explored on screen.
Game of Thrones fans were dealt a disappointing blow last month as it emerged that spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be launching later than first thought. The series, which draws inspiration from George RR Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as his young squire, the future Aegon V Targaryen. Following a controversial second season for House of the Dragon, which provoked the ire of even Martin himself, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is being hyped as a return to form for the fantasy franchise. Both the author and HBO executive Francesca Orsi have heaped praise on the two lead actors, with talk of a potential three-season run already brewing – but alas, we're still a way off from the initial premiere. If you're eager for another trip to Westeros, read on for everything we know so far about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release date speculation A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms does not yet have a confirmed release date, but HBO has announced that it will be launching at some point in 2026. Previously, the broadcaster suggested that we'd be seeing the second Game of Thrones spin-off in late 2025, but the show was delayed for unspecified reasons. There's no reason to be alarmed, however, as both George RR Martin and HBO executive Francesca Orsi have gushed about the work-in-progress series, even hinting that a double-renewal could be on the cards. She told Deadline in February: "You're going to be so impressed by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg... So much so that we're already planning on how we build this for three seasons in total. "We're not picking it up officially [yet], but it's looking very good. We're looking at it as a holistic piece, seasons 2 and 3, because there's three novellas." Her comments follow Martin's praise (via his blog, naturally), where the author wrote that he had "loved" what he'd seen so far, adding that stars Claffey and Ansell were "just incredible" as Dunk and Egg. Filming commenced on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms back in June 2024 and wrapped in September of that year, with the shorter six-episode season and sparing visual effects contributing to a faster turnaround than House of the Dragon. When A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is ready for release, it will most likely come to Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, which is home to most HBO and Max content on our shores. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website When is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms set? Game of Thrones connection explained A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set almost a century before the events of Game of Thrones, meaning it's unlikely that we'll be seeing any cameos from stars of the original series. This also puts it considerably further up the timeline than hit prequel House of the Dragon, which unfolds approximately seven decades before the Tales of Dunk and Egg. Nevertheless, one piece of connective tissue comes in the form of Aemon Targaryen (played by the late Peter Vaughan in various episodes in the first five seasons), who is the brother of Aegon V or 'Egg'. He renounced his claim to the throne in order to become a maester and brother of the Night Watch, where he crossed paths with Jon Snow (Kit Harington). Alas, he did not know that the young warrior was actually his great-great nephew. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was previously used as the title of Game of Thrones season 8 episode 2, paying tribute to Martin's trilogy of novellas, which came out many years prior to its broadcast. What is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms about? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms chronicles the formative experiences of Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall (future lord commander of the Kingsguard) and his squire Aegon V 'Egg' Targaryen (future king). Their adventures take place during a tumultuous period for Westeros, when the land is still recovering from a schism in House Targaryen that led to a period of brutal conflict, from which King Daeron II Targaryen emerged victorious. Peter Claffey (Wreck) and Dexter Sol Ansell (The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) take the lead roles of Dunk and Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, with Bertie Carvel (Dalgliesh) also appearing as King Daeron II's son and trusted hand, Baelor. The story of Dunk and Egg was first told in a George RR Martin-penned novella titled The Hedge Knight, with the author calling A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms "as faithful [an] adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for". He wrote on his blog: "Viewers who are looking for action, and more action, and only action… well, this one may not satisfy you. "There's a huge fight scene here, as exciting as anyone could ask for, but there are no dragons this time around, no huge battles, no white walkers… this is a character piece, and its focus is on duty and honour, on chivalry and all it means." In a gushing post to his blog, Martin also previously assured fans that he "loved" the adaptation, describing it as a "faithful" translation of the source material and hailing the cast as "just incredible". The comments should come as reassurance following Martin's vocal disapproval of House of the Dragon season 2, which also provoked the ire of fans with a finale deemed anticlimactic by many. Previously, HBO boss Casey Bloys had teased (via THR) that the show has a "lighter tone" than both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, which helps to make it a "very different" series. Is there A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer? Kind of. While not exactly a full cinematic trailer, you can catch a few seconds of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in the sizzle reel below, which showcases upcoming shows for US streaming service Max. However, keep in mind that the show is no longer launching this year as the compilation suggests – it has instead been pushed back to 2026. Watch here: View oEmbed on the source website A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is coming soon. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who is Dominic McLaughlin? Meet the star playing Harry Potter in TV series
The upcoming Harry Potter TV series's trio of young leads have been announced.
A new era of Harry Potter fandom is fast approaching as the hotly anticipated HBO TV adaptation gears up to begin production later this summer. The cast of the adaptation, which will span at least a decade and be based on the seven books in the series, has been shaping up nicely in recent weeks, with the likes of John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu, Janet McTeer, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse set to star. And now the three lead child stars have been confirmed, with Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout set to feature as the iconic trio, Harry, Hermione and Ron. The news comes after an open casting call for the roles was announced last year, with more than 30,000 children auditioning – but it was McLaughlin, Stanton and Stout who ultimately bagged the parts. Following the announcement, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod said in a statement: "After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione and Ron." They continued: "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together on-screen. "We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there." The Harry Potter film franchise first hit cinemas over two decades ago, capturing hearts around the world and launching its child stars into the limelight, and the same will no doubt be the case for our new trio. So, wondering who McLaughlin, who's taking over the titular role from Daniel Radcliffe in the upcoming TV adaptation, is and where you've seen him before? Read on for everything you need to know about the star. Who is Dominic McLaughlin? Dominic McLaughlin is a Scottish actor who's set to appear in two TV series over the course of the next year, including BBC action adventure series Gifted and Sky comedy Grow. He began his career at the Performance Academy Scotland, where he has been studying for the last five years. The school shared a statement following the news of his casting, writing: "We are not sure this will ever feel real but we said from the start that Dominic was the perfect Harry and we are thrilled for everyone else to see this soon, too." How old is Dominic McLaughlin? The rising star is 11 years old and is following in the footsteps of Radcliffe, who was the same age when he initially took on the role of Harry in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. What has Dominic McLaughlin previously starred in? The actor doesn't have many credits yet but, as mentioned above, he's set to appear in BBC action adventure series Gifted later in 2025. An adaptation of Marilyn Kaye's novel of the same name, the series revolves around a bunch of Scottish teenagers who discover they have superpowers. McLaughlin will also be starring in Sky comedy Grow this year alongside Nick Frost, who's also set to appear in the Harry Potter reboot as Hogwarts groundskeeper Hagrid. The actor has also appeared in Macbeth at the Royal Highland Centre, starring opposite Indira Varma and Ralph Fiennes. Is Dominic McLaughlin on Instagram or Twitter? The star doesn't appear to be on Instagram or Twitter at the time of writing. The Harry Potter series will stream on Max. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who is Arabella Stanton? Meet the Harry Potter TV series star behind Hermione
The rising star beat thousands of hopefuls to land the role.
As HBO’s Harry Potter TV series gears up to kick off filming, the cast continues to shape up rather nicely, with the three lead child stars now having been confirmed. Following months of speculation, HBO has finally revealed who will be portraying the Harry Potter trio, with Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout set to star as Harry, Hermione and Ron An open casting call for the parts was announced last year, and more than 30,000 children auditioned. The trio will join previously announced cast members including John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu, Janet McTeer, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse, while further casting announcements are expected soon. Wondering who the Hermione actress is who’ll be taking over the iconic role from Emma Watson in HBO's upcoming TV adaptation? Read on for everything you need to know about the star. Who is Arabella Stanton? Arabella Stanton is a rising actress from Britain. She is best known for starring as Matilda Wormwood in Matilda the Musical in London’s West End from 2023 to 2024. On Instagram, the star previously reflected on her West End debut playing Matilda, revealing: “I started auditioning for Matilda the Musical the week after my 9th birthday and feel so lucky and honoured to have spent the age of 9 being able to play Matilda Wormwood at the Cambridge Theatre, London for the Royal Shakespeare Company (and at Buckingham Palace for an extra special performance at the BBC 500 Words Final)." She added: "Being able to play the part of Matilda as my West End debut has been incredible... dreams really can come true!” How old is Arabella Stanton? The rising star is 11 years old and is following in the footsteps of Emma Watson, who played Hermione in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when she was the same age. What has Arabella Stanton previously starred in? Stanton might be best known for playing the titular role in Matilda the Musical, but she has also previously appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s play Starlight Express at Wembley Park Theatre, in which she played the narrator. What has Arabella Stanton said about joining the Harry Potter TV series? Stanton is yet to speak out about her casting, but following the announcement, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod said in a statement: "After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione and Ron." They continued: "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there." The TV adaptation of the famous franchise was confirmed by HBO Max back in 2003 and will be a “faithful adaptation” of the seven books in the series, published between 1997 and 2007, and the first series of the new adaptation is expected to follow Harry, Hermione and Ron as they cross paths on the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A statement from Max explained: "The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for. "The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years." It continued: "Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally." Is Arabella Stanton on Instagram or Twitter? Yes, Stanton appears to be on Instagram and can be found at the handle @arabellastantonofficial. The actress is not currently on X (Twitter). The Harry Potter series will stream on Max. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Harry Potter TV series officially confirms new Harry, Ron and Hermione
Harry, Hermione and Ron have now been cast for the upcoming HBO series.
After months of speculation, the leading three stars of HBO's Harry Potter TV series have now been confirmed. The HBO original series will be led by newcomers Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. While all three stars are newcomers to the world of TV, Stanton may be familiar to some musical fans, as she previously starred in the West End production of Matilda, as well as the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Starlight Express. As for Stout, he has been seen in TV advertisements, while McLaughlin is set to be seen in Sky Original comedy Grow. Generally, it's understood that this is the first time all three youngsters are set to be in front of a major TV series camera, though. Alongside the announcement comes a first-look picture of the trio (which can be seen above), beaming as they crouch in the grass. On the announcement of the casting, showrunner and executive producer Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod (executive producer and director of multiple episodes) said in a statement: “After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione and Ron. "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.” Casting had previously been announced last month, confirming that John Lithgow would play Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu would be Severus Snape, Janet McTeer would play Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost would star as Rubeus Hagrid. Alongside the four series regulars, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse were announced to be appearing in guest and recurring roles. Read more: The Last of Us season 2 finale ratings take a steep plunge after season 1 Pierce Brosnan responds to MobLand accent criticism The new series is set to land on our screens in 2027, with the show set to be based on all seven books in the series, published between 1997 and 2007. As per the show's synopsis by HBO: "The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for. "The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years." It continued: "Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally." As for behind-the-scenes duties, the series will be written and executive produced by Gardiner, and executive produced Mark Mylod, who will also direct multiple episodes in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros Television. The series is executive produced by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, as well as David Heyman of Heyday Films. The Harry Potter series will stream on Max. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Last of Us season 2 finale ratings take a steep plunge after season 1
*Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for the ending of The Last of Us season 2.* With the final episode of The Last of Us season 2 having now aired, we've been left reeling in the wake of close calls with death, surprise plot developments and one hell of a cliffhanger ending. It's no secret that this second instalment continued to draw in a mixed reaction from fans, but it seems as though the viewing figures correspond to the tempered down reaction of the season. It's now been revealed that the season 2 finale saw 3.7 million cross-platform viewers, meaning it's 55 per cent down from the season 1 finale. The first season's final episode saw an impressive 8.2 million cross-platform viewers tune in, so it's safe to say that numbers are down in a big way for this second outing. However, despite initially low numbers, HBO have said that they expect significant growth in numbers following the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The network have underlined the potential for growth by stating that season 2 numbers are already pointing at a larger average number of viewers than season 1. They stated that season 2 is tallying nearly 37 million global viewers per episode, with that figure only growing. For context (via Deadline), the season 1 premiere eventually went on to generate nearly 32 million viewers in 90 days post-premiere, which is the largest audience for an HBO and Max debut season ever. The second season of The Last of Us has continued to prove controversial among viewers, with the season deciding to take on a big narrative swing early on in the season by killing off co-lead Joel, played by Pedro Pascal. Essentially a drawn-out revenge mission by Ellie (Bella Ramsey), the second season followed her as she set her sights on Seattle to confront Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) for her actions. The finale saw Ellie come face-to-face with two of Abby's friends, Owen (Spencer Lord) and Mel (Ariela Barer), eventually shooting and killing them both. Read more: Doctor Who's Millie Gibson teases classic villain's terrifying arrival – and the Doctor’s biggest battle Solo Leveling wins big at Anime Awards as full list of winners confirmed Fans of the game will be all too aware at the narrative shift set to unfold for season 3, which has already been confirmed. As teased in the season finale's last moments, we're set to follow Abby from here on out, going back to Seattle day 1 from her perspective instead of Ellie's. It was a controversial move for the game all those years ago, and it's set to be confirmed just how the TV series will deal with fan reactions to the original plot development. Season 2 actress Catherine O'Hara already confirmed that season 3 is "the Abby story" so whether or not that means we just follow Dever's character through all episodes of season 3 remains to be seen. On the announcement of season 3, Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO programming, head of HBO drama series and films, said in a statement: “It can’t be overemphasised how proud HBO is for the outstanding achievement we believe the second season of The Last of Us is. “Craig, Neil, Carolyn and the entire executive producer team, cast and crew have delivered a masterful follow-up and we’re thrilled to carry the power of Craig and Neil’s storytelling into what we know will be an equally moving and extraordinary third season.” The Last of Us seasons 1 and 2 are available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Add The Last of Us to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Last of Us season 2 ending explained: Is [SPOILER] dead?
*Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 2 episode 7.* With the end of The Last of Us season 2 comes the end of the road for various characters – and the beginning of a new chapter for others. Episode 7 saw Ellie finally come face-to-face with Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) again, amid her quest for revenge after Joel's (Pedro Pascal) death. But Abby certainly isn't about to go quietly. Thankfully, The Last of Us has been renewed for season 3, so we know the story will continue, but we've been left on a gigantic cliffhanger. Here's what you need to know about how The Last of Us season 2 ended – and those dramatic final scenes! Beware of game spoilers – and potential season 3 spoilers – ahead, though! The Last of Us ending explained: Is Ellie dead? No, Ellie isn't dead, and her story will continue in future seasons of The Last of Us – unless the show takes a huge departure away from the game. However, she certainly came close to death a few times in episode 7. One of those brushes with death comes as a result of an encounter with the Seraphites. Ellie figures out that Abby is in the aquarium and, after a fight with Jesse (Young Mazino), goes to find her alone, while he goes to meet with Tommy (Gabriel Luna). But, after surviving a dangerous trip on a boat, Ellie washes up on shore and inadvertently falls right into the clutches of the Seraphites. She narrowly avoids being killed and strung up when a signal indicates that the Seraphites' village is under attack, and they leave her. Undeterred, she arrives at the aquarium to take on Abby and encounters Owen (Spencer Lord) and Mel (Ariela Barer). When Owen grabs a gun, Ellie shoots him dead – but also accidentally fatally injures Mel, who reveals she's pregnant in her dying moments. She asks Ellie to cut out her baby – but she's unable to, and sobs over Mel's dead body. Tommy and Jesse find Ellie and take her away. When they arrive back at the theatre, Ellie and Jesse make their peace – but they soon hear a disturbance and find that Abby has tracked them down. While Jesse is immediately shot and killed, Ellie pleads for Tommy's life. But it's not Tommy that Abby wants as, she points her gun at Ellie. As the episode cuts to black, we just hear a single gunshot. Is Jesse dead? Yes, Jesse is dead. When he and Ellie hear a disturbance in the theatre, he opens the door first – and Abby immediately shoots him dead. Jesse's death is even more heartbreaking following his realisation that Dina is pregnant earlier in the episode. He reasons that he can't die, and tries his utmost to get Ellie, Tommy, Dina, and his unborn child out of Seattle. What does Abby's flashback mean? The end of the episode sees a flashback to Seattle day one – a few days ago – indicating that we're set to see the same few days from Abby's perspective. Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann previously opened up about wanting fans to feel some empathy for Abby – and how difficult that is in the show compared to in the game, where you play as Abby. As a result, Abby was introduced a lot earlier in the show. "The first question I remember asking Neil [Druckmann] was, 'Why did you do it that way?' Because I'm always trying to get under the hood of his intentions there," Mazin previously told RadioTimes.com. Mazin continued: "He said he felt like there was something about the mechanics of playing, and I agree, as a fan of the game and video games in general, where when you become someone you have an instant connection to them. And it can be very confusing to be someone and then also to do things that you wish the person wouldn't be doing. "But in television, we don't have that. We don't have that no one can say, 'Oh, when I was Joel or when I was Abby'. We watched them and our feeling was in this medium, it was important to give people enough context, because we weren't [going to do] a long stretch where there would just be Abby, because the game was saying you're Abby now, you can't just press triangle and be Joel or Ellie, you have to be Abby for a long time. We don't have that. "We had choices of when to bring people in and out, and so we thought it was important to situate Abby." It seems we're going to see a lot more of what made Abby who she is when season 3 rolls around. If you're wondering what happens next in the game, check out our video below: View Green Video on the source website The Last of Us seasons 1 and 2 are available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Add The Last of Us to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Last of Us season 2 release schedule: When is episode 7 out?
New episodes of The Last of Us season 2 are being released simultaneously in the US and the UK, but when will they air?
**Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Last of Us season 2 episode 6.** The Last of Us season 2 has finally offered us some closure in the most devastating of ways – with a return from Pedro Pascal's Joel in an emotional flashback episode. Now, the wait is on for episode 7, the finale episode, to find out what is set to happen to Bella Ramsey's Ellie in her quest for vengeance after Joel's brutal death. Fans of the games know that there's still a lot to look forward to (and indeed, to dread) before this latest chapter wraps up, so read on for when you can expect The Last of Us season 2 episode 7 to premiere – along with the show's full release schedule. When do new episodes of The Last of Us come out? New episodes of The Last of Us season 2 drop every Sunday at 9pm PT/ET on HBO and Max in the US, and at 2am on Monday (or Sunday night, seeing as it's 2am) on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW in the UK. For viewers unable to stay up that late, new episodes of The Last of Us season 2 are also airing again at 9pm every Monday evening on Sky Atlantic in the UK. For more about release times around the globe, you can find out more now. When is The Last of Us season 2 episode 7 coming out? The Last of Us season 2 episode 7 will be released on Monday 26th May at 2am BST in the UK. In the US, that works out to Sunday 25th May at various different times throughout the evening – 9pm EST, 8pm CST, and 6pm EST – depending on where you are in the country. Episode 7 is written by Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross, Craig Mazin, and directed by Nina Lopez-Corrado. How many episodes are in season 2 of The Last of Us? There are seven episodes of The Last of Us season 2 in total. Fans will note that this means the second season is shorter than season 1, which boasted nine episodes. Speaking on their decision to cut the amount of episodes going into the second instalment, co-showrunner Craig Mazin previously told Deadline: "The story material that we got from Part II of the game is way more than the story material that was in the first game, so part of what we had to do from the start was figure out how to tell that story across seasons. "When you do that, you look for natural breakpoints, and as we laid it out, this season, the natural breakpoint felt like it came after seven episodes." What is The Last of Us season 2 release schedule? The Last of Us season 2 will release one new episode a week, with each airing simultaneously both in the US and the UK. This means that while US fans will be able to watch new episodes at 9pm, UK fans can also tune in at 2am on Sky Atlantic. You can find the full release schedule for The Last of Us season 2 below: Episode 1 - Future Days - Monday 14th April at 2am BST (out now) Episode 2 - Through the Valley - Monday 21st April at 2am BST (out now) Episode 3 - The Path – Monday 28th April at 2am BST (out now) Episode 4 - Day One – Monday 5th May at 2am BST (out now) Episode 5 - Feel Her Love - Monday 12th May at 2am BST (out now) Episode 6 - The Price - Monday 19th May at 2am BST (out now) Episode 7 - Monday 26th May at 2am BST View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Is there a trailer for The Last of Us season 2 episode 7? There is! And it teases one hell of a fight in the final episode of the season. Watch below: View oEmbed on the source website The Last of Us season 1 is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Season 2 is currently releasing weekly. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Rehearsal season 2 confirms UK release date for Nathan Fielder's genre-bending series
The series has already caused quite the stir in the US.
The Rehearsal returned to TV screens for its second season for our friends across the pond last month, but fans in the UK have been waiting ever so patiently for it to be released – and there isn't long to go! It has been confirmed that Nathan Fielder's docu-comedy series will start for UK audiences at 10pm on Monday 26th May over on Sky Comedy and NOW, with episode 2 following at 10:50pm the same evening. Once more, Fielder plays a fictionalised version of himself as he helps ordinary people rehearse for difficult conversations or life events through the use of hired actors and sets. While season 1 dealt with the issue of starting a family, season 2 is raising the stakes as "the urgency of Fielder's project grows as he decides to put his resources toward an issue that affects us all" – aviation safety. And the second season has already caused quite a stir. Lana Love, a former contestant on The Voice US, claimed to Variety that she flew over to Los Angeles to appear on what she thought was a talent show with a star prize... only to discover it wasn't real and was part of The Rehearsal. Neither HBO nor representatives for Fielder have commented on the story at the time of writing. Elsewhere, the series made headlines over scenes in which Fielder criticised Paramount+ for taking down an episode of his previous show Nathan for You following a standards review. "I remember wanting to convey how urgent this was for me, and yet my email was extremely cordial, using phrases like 'forever grateful' and 'happy holidays'," Fielder says in The Rehearsal. "The network confirmed in their response that it was taken down intentionally and gave me a one-word explanation as to why – 'sensitivities'." The Rehearsal returns at 10pm on Monday 26th May on Sky Comedy and NOW. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has release date delayed
Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has had its release date delayed. While the HBO spin-off didn't have an official premiere date, it was originally set to be released this year. However, it's now been pushed back to 2026. Variety reports that a first-look trailer for the series at WBD’s recent upfront presentation confirmed the new 2026 release window - but HBO CEO Casey Bloys narrowed that down by announcing that it's set for "winter" (so, in early 2026). Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell will lead the cast of the six-part series, adapted from George RR Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, which introduced readers to the exploits of Ser Duncan the Tall (or 'Dunk') and his squire, future king Aegon V Targaryen (or 'Egg'). It takes place about 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, with the synopsis for the show reading: "A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. "Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends." However, Thrones fans won't be left wanting, with plenty of spin-offs in the works - including season 3 of House of the Dragon. Filming is currently under way for the third instalment, which follows the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen and the devastating war known as the Dance of Dragons. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be released in 2026. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch HBO's The Last of Us season 2 online in the UK
How can UK fans get their fix of The Last of Us season 2?
The Last of Us season 2 is in full swing in the UK. And now episode 4 has landed, providing fans with a brilliant blend of action and horror, and some of the show's most touching moments, as Dina and Ellie's quest for revenge goes up a gear. The new episode also treated fans to a scene taken straight out of the game. Speaking ahead of the release of season 2 co-showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann teased an "intense and crazy" adventure. Following the release of the trailer, Druckmann said at SXSW (via Entertainment Weekly): "There's some pretty intense stuff you don't even see in the trailer. "It's crazier — it's a wild roller coaster ride." Mazin said of season 2: "That world is louder, and it is more dangerous, and we have dug in. And, honestly, I think, if we don't get canceled, next season will be even bigger." Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch The Last of Us in the UK as the adventure continues. Where to watch The Last of Us in the UK The Last of Us season 2 airs weekly every Monday on Sky Atlantic at 2am BST. All episodes air simultaneously in the UK and US and will then be available to watch on demand on Sky and NOW. For those who don’t want to stay up until the early hours, the episodes also air on Sky Atlantic again at 9pm on Mondays. The series premieres on Monday 21st April and is due to conclude on Monday 26th May. If you haven’t got Sky but are still desperate to watch The Last of Us, you’re in luck: the show is also available to stream live on the Sky-owned NOW streaming service, where you can also watch it on catch-up. You can watch NOW online on your Windows PC or a Mac by downloading the NOW Player. If you aren't already subscribed to NOW's entertainment membership, you can do so for £9.99 per month. Those who are yet to subscribe can watch The Last of Us for free by signing up to NOW's 7-day free trial, which is available for all first-time subscribers, and gives users access to 16 live channels and 300 TV series boxsets. How many episodes of The Last of Us are there? There are seven episodes in total of The Last of Us, shorter than season 1 which boasted nine episodes. How to watch The Last of Us season 2 on HBO Max In the US, The Last of Us season 2 airs on HBO at 9pm ET every Sunday night. While HBO Max may have announced a European launch back in 2021, the streaming platform is unavailable in the UK. But as detailed in this article, you can get many of the HBO Max titles on Sky and NOW. How to catch up on The Last of Us season 1 in the UK The first season of the show is also available to watch on Sky and Now TV in the UK. You can also buy the boxset on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime. What is The Last of Us season 2 about? The sci-fi is based on the wildly popular game of the same name, and is set 20 years after an outbreak of an infectious fungus that turns humans into monsters. Two decades on from the outbreak, the world has been torn apart – but Ellie holds a secret that could change everything. Season 1 saw Joel tasked with protecting her and taking her across the US, with it proving to be less than an easy task. The official logline for season 2 reads:"After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind." The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has already previously revealed that, just like with season 1, he won’t be afraid to take the narrative in a different direction. "It will be different. Just as this season was different," he told ComicBook.com. "Sometimes it will be different radically and sometimes it will be barely different at all. But it's going to be different and it will be its own thing." He added: "It won't be exactly like the game. It will be the show that Neil [Druckmann, co-creator] and I want to make." View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Last of Us is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who are the Seraphites and the Prophet in The Last of Us season 2?
As they arrive in Seattle, Ellie and Dina stumble across the remains of a mysterious group. But who exactly are the Seraphites?
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 2 episode 3. As Ellie and Dina venture further from Jackson in their search for vengeance, they are about to stumble into an increasingly violent world. Episode 3 of The Last of Us season 2 introduces a group of scarred survivors, only for them to be massacred before Ellie and Dina can even meet them. The group are members of the Seraphites. Along with the WLF, the Seraphites have been warring over Seattle for almost a decade by the time Ellie and Dina arrive. But who are the Seraphites? Why do they have scars? And who is their Prophet? With some insight from the games, here is everything you need to know about the Seraphites in The Last of Us season 2. Who are the Seraphites in The Last of Us season 2? The Seraphites are a religious faction in The Last of Us season 2. Whereas the WLF embrace the technology of the pre-apocalyptic world, Seraphites believe in a return to natural order, under the guidance of the Prophet. They fight with arrows, hang dissenters, and communicate through an intricate whistling language. Referred to as “Scars” by the WLF, Seraphites can be identified by the blemishes on their cheeks. This scarification is performed on all Seraphites at a young age, in memory of their Prophet. During FEDRA and the WLF’s war for dominance, the Seraphites relocated to an island off the coast of Seattle, named the Haven. Who is the Prophet in The Last of Us season 2? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/04/Ellie-finds-Seraphite-graffiti-in-blood-8ad8048.png" width="1600" height="1066" alt="Gameplay footage. Ellie (a young girl with a heavy backpack and chin-length hair) is exploring a decrepit building. There is a noose on the ceiling, and on there wall there is a strange symbol written in blood. Underneath it are the words "Feel Her Love"." title="Ellie finds Seraphite graffiti in blood" /> When the outbreak occurred, the Prophet was a woman who founded the Seraphites and advocated for a return to a simpler, more egalitarian life in which people lived peacefully off the land. As a strong fighter, the Prophet saved many in her community from infected, eventually building up the faction which would be known as the Seraphites. After the Prophet was martyred, hostilities erupted into warfare, and her peaceful ideology was lost. Throughout the game, images of the Prophet can be found – painted on Martyr’s Gate, graffitied on lorries, carved into trees and more. In the game, Ellie stumbles across a Seraphite symbol written in blood. Why are the Seraphites fighting the WLF? In the game, the Seraphites and the WLF have been fighting for almost a decade, stuck in cycles of violence. Once WLF gained control of Seattle over a decade ago, they started a strict regime of retribution against FEDRA, shooting ex-members, and mandating its citizens relocate. Refusing the WLF’s rule, the Seraphites sought refuge on an island off the coast of Seattle. View oEmbed on the source website Tensions between the two groups mounted, until the Prophet ordered the attack of a WLF supply wagon. A ceasefire was struck, guaranteeing the protection of the Seraphite island in exchange for non-interference with supply chains. When a group of Seraphite teenagers attacked some soldiers, the WLF broke the ceasefire, killed the trespassers, and led a full scale assault for retribution. As part of their revenge, they captured and killed the Prophet, making a martyr out of her. The ensuing battle caused many WLF to defect, and attacks on both sides increased in scale. Without their peaceful leader, the Seraphites became increasingly violent in their vengeance, targeting WLF civilians as well, until all-out war broke out between them. In the years since Abby and her crew joined the WLF, the Seraphites continued their guerrilla warfare attacks, while the WLF expanded their hold on Seattle. Will Lev and Yara appear in The Last of Us season 2? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/04/Lev-and-Yara-in-The-Last-of-Us--766e671.png" width="1600" height="1066" alt="Lev and Yara from The last of Us part II. They are both asian. Lev, on the left, is a young boy with a shaved head. He is drawing a bow, prepared for battle. Yara, on the right, is slightly older and has a halo braid of black hair and carries a backpack. Behind them is a dense forest." title="Lev and Yara in The Last of Us" /> Without a casting announcement, it is unlikely Lev and Yara will appear in season 2. However, with season 3 being confirmed, the second game will likely be split across the two seasons, and Lev and Yara may appear in season 3. Lev and Yara are Seraphite siblings who join Abby in the second half of The Last of Us Part II video game. The fan-favourite duo are the only Seraphites to meaningfully interact with the story, but they are also exiled from the group. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Last of Us season 2 is streaming on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How did The Last of Us season 2 episode 2 change that major death from the game?
Warning: Major spoilers for The Last of Us season 2 episode 2 ahead. Everyone is reeling after that major death in The Last of Us season 2 episode 2, which has changed the whole trajectory of the show going forward. Pedro Pascal's Joel was brutally killed off at the hands of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), who tortured him before stabbing him through the neck with a spike in front of Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as revenge for Joel killing her father at the end of season 1. To see how it happened in the games, you can watch the video above! "I'm in active denial," Pascal told EW of the brutal twist. "I realise this more and more as I get older, I find myself slipping into denial that anything is over. "I know that I'm forever bonded to so many members of the experience and just have to see them under different circumstances, but never will under the circumstances of playing Joel on The Last of Us. "And, no, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it because it makes me sad." You and us both, Pedro! Thankfully, Joel is expected to rock up again in season 2 in the form of flashbacks - hopefully providing all of us some closure. Until then, here's everything you need to know about how Joel's death was different in season 2 compared to the game. How did The Last of Us season 2 change Joel's death from the game? View oEmbed on the source website In The Last of Us Part II game, as you can see in the video above, less is given away about Abby's motivations. Speeding this up is a positive change, as waiting weekly to understand who she is and why we should care would be painful. This measure might be to lessen any hate Dever receives online, with Abby’s motion capture artist and voice actress, Laura Bailey, being hounded for years for the simple crime of portraying a complex and dynamic woman. In the game, there is also no focus on an infected horde breaching the walls of Jackson. Speaking about that inclusion in the show, Neil Druckmann said on the official The Last of Us podcast: "I really enjoyed doing this deeper dive. One of the things we couldn’t do in the game, and it was one of our earliest conversations of how we would achieve this moment, in the game, we talk about how things happen to Jackson. "There are certain attacks, whether it’s infected or raiders, but we never get to see it. Here, because we’re not playing any particular character, you could jump between this attack on Jackson and this situation that Joel’s found himself in, showing the kind of loss you can experience in this world on a personal intimate level and on a community level. That’s something we’ll visit again in this season." In the game, the patrols are slightly different too. Joel is paired with Tommy on his final patrol, and the two of them come across Abby. In the show, Joel is accompanied by Dina, leaving Tommy and Maria to defend Jackson, and Ellie is paired with Jesse, in lieu of Dina. The broad strokes remain the same, down to the set dressing, shot to the knee and brutality with a golf club. However, Abby’s killing blow in the game is another hit from the golf club, rather than a menagerie of fists and the point of the broken club through the neck. Thematically, it seems like we’ll be taken on the same journey, and judging by shots of Joel in the trailers for this season yet unused, we’re going to have a lot of emotional flashbacks of him and Ellie in the years between season 1 and 2. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Last of Us airs on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK and on HBO in the US. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who is Abby in The Last of Us season 2? Actor, character and backstory explained
Everything you need to know about Abby - including major spoilers.
The Last of Us season 2 has finally landed, transporting fans forward five years after the events of season 1 and reuniting us with Joel and Ellie. But alongside returning faces, the new instalment also introduces viewers to a number of new characters, including the fan-favourite Abby Anderson (Kaitlyn Dever), who is introduced in the season 2 premiere as an antagonist to Joel. Fans familiar with the source material will be both excited and wary about the introduction of the character to the story, while fans new to The Last of Us world might be wondering just who she is and what her connection to Joel is. Love gaming? Listen to our podcast, One More Life! Want to know more about the character and her backstory? Read on for everything you need to know about Abby in The Last of Us. But before we continue, be aware that there are major spoilers for both The Last of Us Part 1, Part 2 and the TV series, so stop reading if you want to experience the story with fresh eyes! Who is Abby in The Last of Us season 2? Abby is introduced in the season 2 premiere as someone who's out for revenge. She is a member of the remaining Fireflies, which also includes Manny (Danny Ramirez), Mel (Ariela Barer), Nora (Tati Gabrielle), and Owen (Spencer Lord), and is still grieving the loss of her loved ones who met an unpleasant fate when Joel rescued Ellie after finding out what they planned to do to her. Since that discovery, she and her group have been attempting to track down Joel in order to seek revenge. This marks a departure from the original video game, in which Abby's intentions remain unknown until she kills another character. Speaking about the major change to the story, showrunner Craig Mazin exclusively told RadioTimes.com: "The first question I remember asking Neil [Druckmann] was, 'Why did you do it that way?' Because I'm always trying to get under the hood of his intentions there." Mazin continued: "He said he felt like there was something about the mechanics of playing, and I agree, as a fan of the game and video games in general, where when you become someone you have an instant connection to them. And it can be very confusing to be someone and then also to do things that you wish the person wouldn't be doing "But in television, we don't have that. We don't have that no one can say, 'Oh, when I was Joel or when I was Abby'. We watched them and our feeling was in this medium, it was important to give people enough context, because we weren't [going to do] a long stretch where there would just be Abby, because the game was saying you're Abby now, you can't just press triangle and be Joel or Ellie, you have to be Abby for a long time. We don't have that. "We had choices of when to bring people in and out, and so we thought it was important to situate Abby." Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference ahead of season 2, Druckmann explained why the character was introduced so early in the show. "In the game, you play as Abby, so you immediately form an empathic connection with her, because you’re surviving as her, you’re running through the snow, you’re fighting infected," he said. He continued: "And we can withhold certain things and make it a mystery that will be revealed later in the story. We couldn’t do that in the show because you’re not playing as her." Speaking about Abby's connection to Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Druckmann added: "Where that revelation happens in the game, if we were to stick to a very similar timeline, viewers would have to wait a very, very long time to get that context. "It would probably get spoiled to them between seasons, and we didn’t want that, so it felt appropriate for those reasons to move that up and give the viewer that context right off the bat." Who was Abby's father in The Last of Us? Abby's father was a Firefly surgeon at the hospital that Joel stormed at the end of season 1. Who is Abby in The Last of Us video game? Abby is one of the two playable characters in The Last of Us 2, alongside Ellie. Her story runs parallel to Ellie’s, and offers a different perspective of events in the wake of Joel’s actions in the first game. After losing her father and the disbandment of the Fireflies, she travels to Seattle to join the Washington Liberation Front, in the hopes of finding purpose in her life once more. In the years that follow, Abby becomes hardened and an adept fighter, making her a formidable foe. After confronting her literal and metaphorical demons, Abby’s belief system is challenged, and she finds her world in turmoil once more when she meets Yev and Yara, prompting Abby to reinvent herself and finally find peace. View Green Video on the source website Who plays Abby in The Last of Us season 2? Kaitlyn Dever plays Abby in The Last of Us TV show. This was confirmed along with other cast members for season 2. Dever has a previous connection to Naughty Dog, as she voiced Cassie Drake and provided motion capture for Uncharted 3: A Thief’s End. Dever has also starred in Olivia Wilde’s 2019 comedy film Booksmart as Amy Antsler. She played Eve Baxter in the sitcom Last Man Standing for nine seasons, too. She also featured in Annapurna Interactive’s Open Roads, an interactive movie mystery-thriller game that sees a mother and daughter face their troubled paths together. It was announced that Dever, who was originally considered for the role of Ellie (which went to Bella Ramsey), would be joining the cast last year. Preempting any backlash from fans about the star playing the role, especially when it comes to how the character looks, Neil Druckmann said: "We value performance over anything else. "We need someone to really capture the essence of those characters.... We don't value as much, 'Do they look exactly like the character with their eyebrows or their nose or their body?' Whatever it is. "It's not nowhere on the priority list, but it's below a bunch of other things that we consider." Who plays Abby in The Last of Us video game? Laura Bailey plays Abby in The Last of Us Part 2. Bailey is a voice acting veteran, and has been featured in innumerable amounts of games, anime and animations. Bailey also voiced a few smaller characters in the original Last of Us, and reprised her role as a nurse in the HBO TV adaptation. Other video game highlights include Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man 2, Kait Diaz in Gears 5, Nadine Ross in Uncharted 4 and Serana in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. You may also have heard her playing Trunkz in Dragon Ball Z, Tressa and Serena in Winx Club or as Gwen Stacy, Ghost-Spider and Black Widow in Disney XD’s Spider-Man. What is Abby’s backstory in The Last of Us video game? Born shortly after the cordyceps infection, Abby Anderson has lived her entire life during the apocalypse. Abby lived with her father Jerry Anderson – the head surgeon and co-leader of the Fireflies – in Salt Lake City, as he worked to try and find a vaccine for the cordyceps fungal infection. At the end of The Last of Us, Joel discovers the Fireflies' intention to kill Ellie in order to find out how she is immune to the cordyceps fungus, and in a rage, breaks back into the hospital to rescue her, killing many in his path. One of the victims was Jerry Anderson. Abby and Jerry were very close, and his death ruins her. After suffering such heartbreak, Abby vows vengeance, and seeks to track Joel down and kill him – making her way to Seattle to join the Washington Liberation Front. The Last of Us season 1 is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Season 2 is released weekly. 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