Highlights
- Catherine O'Hara may play the mysterious Seraphite Prophet in The Last of Us season 2, adding a new layer to the post-apocalyptic series.
- O'Hara's versatile acting skills and friendly demeanor make her a perfect fit for the enigmatic yet powerful character of the Prophet.
- While O'Hara could potentially play other roles in season 2, I'm eagerly anticipating her portrayal of the Prophet in the highly anticipated new season.
HBO's The Last of Us season 2 is filling up nicely with a host of new faces like Young Mazino as Jesse, Issac played by Jeffrey Wright, and Kaitlyn Dever, taking on the role of the forbiddable Abby Anderson, but one new member's role is still under lock and key. Starring in the likes of Schitt's Creek, Home Alone, and the iconic 1980s Beetlejuice, Catherine O'Hara's announcement that she will be joining season 2 of the post-apocalyptic series might come as a surprise to many, but for me, I think she's a perfect addition.
Known for her mostly comedic values and incredible acting chops, O'Hara has the chance to show the world how versatile she really is by slipping into a role she's never played before so let me tell you why she'd be the ideal candidate to take on the Seraphite prophet.
Catherine O'Hara As The Seraphite Prophet
The Last of Us season 2 is set to adapt its storyline to the game's events. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean it will, and it's not yet clear how the HBO show will take on its needed time jump. What is clear, though, is that the Seraphite's presence will, like Part 2, make a huge impact on season 2's plot, as we've already seen recent behind-the-scenes images of the religious group on set, so with that, the cult's prophet will without a doubt play an important role.
Although the Seraphite prophet is only mentioned in scriptures or murals in Part 2, the enigmatic and powerful character's allure hangs over her disciple's every waking thought and decision. Described as a woman with braided black hair, which formed the basis for how the females within the Seraphite community looked, who could charm and convince others to live an egalitarian life and to detach themselves from physical pleasure and technology, this unassuming yet powerful leader could only ever be played by someone who had the ability to disguise themselves as someone "good-hearted" and "a friend of the people" in a bid to get inside their minds.
This is where Catherine O'Hara comes in. With one of the friendliest faces to grace our screens, O'Hare's comedic prowess coupled with a unique Stoic undercurrent (as seen in Schitt's Creek and Beetlejuice) showcases that she would have no issues taking on the (at first) likable mother figure yet unhinged, "Prophet" and could even use her natural knack for being humorous as a way to relax others, somewhat like a siren's ability to lure sailors in the darkness of a hopeless ocean.
It would also make sense that O'Hara is only in a couple of episodes in season 2 as the leader was executed by the WLF's head, Isaac Dixon. Still, there is the possibility that she could immerse herself in flashbacks only.
Other Roles Catherine O'Hara Could Play In Season 2
Even though I have my heart set on O'Hara playing the prophet and will be so bummed out if she doesn't because, as if you couldn't already tell, she'd be bloody brilliant, there are some other characters that she could possibly fill the shoes of. One of those could be Joel's girlfriend, who we only hear about in passing in The Last of Us game but was part of the original storyboard before getting cut.
Since Tess' tragic death in season one, having a "replacement" mother figure for Ellie would also make sense, but again, since O'Hara is cast briefly, I think having two tragic deaths weighing on Ellie's shoulders would be a step too far.
Another option could be that O'Hara will play a brand-new character like how the ruthless militia leader Kathleen was injected into season one, or there's the possibility of her taking on the role of Lev and Yara's mother, who lives on the Seraphite's island as the siblings escape together after the mother condemns Lev after finding out he transitioned into a boy. This fantastic and poignant LGBTQ+ moment in the game was as heartbreaking as it was important, and it would be incredible to see how they craft these particular scenes.
In the grand scheme of things, I'd be just fine to see Catherine O'Hara play any role as a huge Last of Us fan, as I think she's an incredible actor and will smash whatever character she can get her hands on, and so in writing this, it has only made me more eager for season 2 to hurry up and get here. 2025 can't come quickly enough!
