The Last of Us craze is sweeping Nanaimo, as fans of the HBO TV series gathered just outside the set鈥檚 barricades downtown for the chance to catch a glimpse of the actors.
The series stars Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams as they navigate a world filled with zombie-like beings and a fascist military government that won鈥檛 hesitate to execute civillians who step out of line.
Ronin Broad works at the Courtyard by Marriott, just outside of the area where filming was happening Monday, May 13. He stepped outside for the chance to see Pascal.
鈥淚 am [a Pedro Pascal fan], I mean everybody is. Isn鈥檛 he like, daddy? Isn鈥檛 that the thing? He鈥檚 Pedro Pascal,鈥� Broad said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a humble guy, he鈥檚 real. I like that he鈥檚 open about his anxiety.鈥�
Broad was first introduced to the series through the video game in 2013, then the TV show, and said 鈥渢he show鈥檚 different from the game, but I like it, it鈥檚 good.鈥�
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Another fan, Alex Zwick, visited downtown with her toddler for the sole purpose of trying to get a view.
鈥淸My toddler] doesn鈥檛 totally get why we鈥檙e here, having not seen the show obviously. So I tried to explain to her, 鈥榃e鈥檙e looking for Pedro,鈥欌�� Zwick said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been in Narcos, Game of Thrones, other shows we like, and he鈥檚 nice to look at, obviously.鈥�
Payton Kriska was on the Island visiting her parents from Alberta. When she found out they were filming here she said she 鈥渁lmost died.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to see Pedro,鈥� Kriska said. 鈥淪pecifically Pedro.鈥�
She said her love of Pascal comes from not just his on-screen appearances, but also his interviews.
鈥淛ust how humble and kind he is, but also hilarious. I鈥檓 in love.鈥�
The excitement has created opportunity for Ironworks Caf茅 and Cr锚perie, situated on Commercial Street at the edge of the filming area. Owner Dina Stuehler told the News Bulletin the caf茅 has had 鈥渕ore than double鈥� its typical sales and she doesn鈥檛 expect business to slow down until after production.
鈥淥ne of my staff saw Bella on a horse. They have a horse downtown today,鈥� Stuehler said. 鈥淪o she got to see both the horse and Bella.鈥�
Filming was set to take place Monday and Tuesday, May 13-14, after weeks of set preparation.
