Josh Peck Joins The Last of Us Season 2 in an Eerie New Role

Josh Peck has been concealing a major secret for more than a year: he’s officially become part of The Last of Us Season 2.

The actor, recognized for his performances in Drake & Josh and Oppenheimer, joins the esteemed HBO series as one of its latest guest stars. He follows in the footsteps of notable Season 1 appearances from Melanie Lynskey, Nick Offerman, and Murray Bartlett, as well as original game actors such as Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, and Jeffrey Pierce.

Before securing the role, Peck confessed he wasn’t well-versed in the show or the video game it is adapted from. “I was aware of how cherished the show was and how expertly it was made, but I’m a bit of a nervous Nellie when it comes to intense series like this,” he shared with Mashable during a phone conversation. “Honestly, my audition prompted me to check it out to grasp the tone and energy. After watching the first episode, I ended up binge-watching the entire series in two days. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is fantastic.’”

One particular episode resonated with him: Season 1, Episode 3, “Long Long Time,” which narrates the poignant love story of Bill (Offerman) and Frank (Bartlett). “That’s a groundbreaking episode,” Peck remarked. “I can’t say I’ve ever come across a love story — be it straight or gay — that felt so profound, genuine, and sincere.”

While Peck’s character in Season 2 isn’t part of a love story, it’s still significant. He appears in Episode 4 as a FEDRA soldier stationed in the Seattle Quarantine Zone in 2018. His character, which remains unnamed in the episode, delivers a haunting monologue about FEDRA’s repressive tactics — articulated with disturbing humor, underscoring the regime’s dehumanization of civilians.

To prepare, Peck drew upon memories of storytelling with friends. “The themes are incredibly dark and intense. I try not to judge the character for finding humor in something so vile — that doesn’t help me,” he clarified. “What I can relate to is narrating a story that still evokes laughter, something from my childhood with my pals. That’s authentic. And although my character’s narrative is unacceptable, my duty is to make it feel personal and relatable.”

Peck initially performed the monologue for his audition tape. “It was a fantastic scene, and credit to [showrunner] Craig Mazin — the writing was superb,” he stated. “I actually had fun making the tape, which is unusual. Typically, audition tapes are torturous.”

As filming drew near, Peck felt anxious when he hadn’t received any script updates — a common scenario in TV production. “A day prior to filming, my stomach dropped because I hadn’t received any revisions,” he recalled. “Usually, you get multiple updates over a month, and sometimes everything is rewritten the night before.”

However, in this instance, the script stayed the same. When Peck encountered Mazin on set in Vancouver, the showrunner jested, “What if I had changed everything on you last night?” Peck chuckled, feeling relieved.

Peck spent five days filming in Vancouver but remained unaware of the upcoming season’s developments. Even significant plot twists — such as Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) fate — caught him off guard when he watched the show live.

Another surprising moment arose during a costume fitting when Peck spotted a headshot of Jeffrey Wright, who portrays Washington Liberation Front leader Isaac Dixon. “I was like, ‘Oh wow,’” Peck shared. “Jeffrey Wright is one of my favorite actors — from Broken Flowers to Basquiat, which means a lot to me. He’s among our greatest actors, and he couldn’t have been more gracious.”

In the episode, Wright’s character Isaac ultimately takes the life of Peck’s soldier and the remainder of his FEDRA squad, marking a brutal start to the Seattle storyline and Isaac’s leadership. Although his character’s journey is short-lived, Peck appreciates the experience.

“I want to avoid the internet; I’m sure people will have their thoughts!” he joked. “When you’re entering something so cherished, fans are protective of it — and rightly so. But I believe it’ll be a warm reception.”

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.