Summary
- Isabela Merced's performance in Alien: Romulus as a pregnant woman fighting for survival proves she's the perfect choice to play Dina in The Last of Us season 2.
- Merced's character in Alien: Romulus, Kay, is similar to Dina, both facing unexpected pregnancies in terrifying survival situations.
- Merced's past performances prove she can handle the range needed to portray Dina in The Last of Us, from romance to action to humor.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Part II.
Isabela Merced’s performance as a pregnant woman caught in a terrifying fight for survival in Alien: Romulus proves she’s the perfect choice to play Dina in The Last of Us season 2. Merced is one of several new cast members joining HBO’s The Last of Us in its second season. Showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin will begin to tackle the epic narrative of The Last of Us Part II in the show’s highly anticipated season 2, and that has meant casting a bunch of new roles.
Young Mazino’s performance as an angsty young man in Netflix’s Beef has proven that he’s the perfect choice to play Jesse. Kaitlyn Dever’s dark turn as an antihero who’s done really bad things in No One Will Save You has proven that she’s the perfect choice to play Abby. Jeffrey Wright was so perfect as Isaac in the video game that the TV producers have brought him back to reprise his role in the adaptation. And now, Alien: Romulus has come along to prove Merced is the perfect Dina.
The Last Of Us Season 2's Dina Actor Plays A Pregnant Woman In A Terrifying Fight For Survival In Alien: Romulus
Isabela Merced's Alien: Romulus character is surprisingly similar to Dina
Merced’s character in Alien: Romulus, Kay, is surprisingly similar to The Last of Us’ Dina. Much like Dina, she’s dealing with an unexpected pregnancy while being thrust into a terrifying fight for survival against bloodthirsty monsters. In Kay’s case, she’s trapped on a derelict space station full of xenomorphs. In Dina’s case, she’s stuck in a zombie-infested city, hundreds of miles from her home, caught in the midst of an intense civil war between two ruthless factions.
Merced gives one of the most engaging performances in the Alien: Romulus cast. She’s a really likable on-screen presence, so she’ll have no problem breathing life into the role of Dina, arguably the most lovable and good-natured character in the entire Last of Us saga. Plus, she makes Kay’s fear around the xenomorphs feel totally real, which makes the horror sequences even more chilling. She’ll surely bring the same immersive sense of terror to Dina’s encounters with clickers and shamblers.
Why Isabela Merced Was Already The Perfect Choice To Play Dina In The Last Of Us
Merced's past performances have proven she can do action, romance, comedy, and drama really well
Merced already proved herself to be the perfect casting choice for The Last of Us’ Dina long before Alien: Romulus came along. To pull off all the facets of Dina’s character – her love for Ellie, her sense of humor, her badassness on the battlefield – will require a lot of range. And Merced has shown off the required range: she nailed the romance of Turtles All the Way Down, the action-adventure of Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and the blend of heart and humor in Instant Family.
