Alien: Romulus director says a major role was inspired by The Last of Us – and “a year later” the same actor was cast on the HBO show – Gamesradar

Alien: Romulus Director’s Inspiration for Character’s Pregnancy

“Fun fact: I was playing #TheLastOfUs2 while writing #AlienRomulus. The story of a pregnant Dina made me think of having the character of Kay be pregnant too. Then I cast Isabela Merced to play Kay…. A year later she gets cast to play Dina on the HBO show…. True story.” – Fede Alvarez via Twitter

Alien: Romulus director Fede Alvarez took inspiration from The Last of Us Part 2 for the character of Kay’s pregnancy in his film, long before Isabela Merced was cast as Kay in season 2 of the HBO show. This interesting cross-pollination of ideas between video games and film was shared by Alvarez on Twitter.

The connection between Alien: Romulus and The Last of Us Part 2 became even more apparent when it was announced that Isabela Merced, who had been cast as Kay in Alien: Romulus, would later play the role of Dina in the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us. This character, an important figure in Ellie’s life, is also pregnant in the series – a detail that, while different in context, mirrors the pregnancy depicted in Alien: Romulus.

TLOU-Inspired Casting and Similarities

• The director of Alien: Romulus was influenced by The Last of Us Part 2 while creating his film.
• Isabela Merced’s character Kay in Alien: Romulus was made pregnant, inspired by the character Dina from TLOU Part 2.
• A year after casting Merced as Kay, she was cast as Dina in the HBO series based on The Last of Us.
• This serendipitous casting choice is a testament to the impact of The Last of Us franchise on various media and storytelling.

Alien: Romulus is currently in theaters, and fans can look forward to the second season of The Last of Us arriving on Max in 2025. For deeper insights into Alien: Romulus, including the ending explained, the timeline, and the post-credits scene, be sure to check out our comprehensive guides.

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