The Last of Us' Bloater Costume Feels Like Wearing a Sofa, Says Prosthetic Designer

The Last of Us had a sensational start with its first season, earning a staggering 24 Emmy nominations, featuring categories such as Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor (Pedro Pascal), and Lead Actress (Bella Ramsey). Apart from the captivating acting and enthralling narrative, the series also garnered commendations for its remarkable makeup skills, both in contemporary (non-prosthetic) and prosthetic categories.

A critical component of this success was the creation of the 'infected,' particularly one of the most iconic creatures in the series: the bloater. Prosthetics designer Barrie Gower recently shared insights on this intricate process in a conversation with Vanity Fair.

Gower shed light on the enormity of the task, explaining that the bloater was potentially the most extensive infected character featured in the first season. The team had to craft a full-body suit for UK stunt performer Adam Basil, a towering figure standing at around 6'8". The entire endeavor, from inception to completion, spanned a grueling nine to ten weeks. Gower explained:

"The Bloater is potentially the most extensive infected character that we have in the first season. We had the task to create a full body suit for a UK stunt performer called Adam Basil who, I think Adam's about 6'8. And we took a complete body scan of Adam and a life cast of his head and hands, and assembled it here in the workshop. So, we had a duplicate copy of Adam, and we sculpted the entire Bloated suit over his body former in a modeling clay. It's basically like Adam wearing a sofa, and walking around in this huge, massive rubber sofa. The weight is pretty extensive, but it's very elastic, it's very stretchy. It gives him a lot of freedom of movement. The build in total from start to finish, creating the Bloater suit, was probably the best part of about nine to 10 weeks. They scanned Adam fully and had a three-dimensional file, and, as an asset, that they were able to work with the digital company, Weta Digital, who created a fully digital Bloater for the final sequence."

Production Hurdles Shadow The Last of Us Season Two

While the first season was a resounding success, the journey ahead for The Last of Us seems mired in uncertainty due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strikes. Showrunner Craig Mazin recently expressed his concerns on Entertainment Weekly's The Awardist podcast.

Mazin revealed that while the entire second season had been mapped out, and the script for the inaugural episode submitted just before the strike commenced, the production timeline had been severely impacted. He emphasized the importance of keeping the 'below-the-line’ crew members employed and working through the strike.

Reflecting on the situation, Mazin acknowledged the palpable sense of frustration and eagerness among the crew to resume filming. He noted that for many in the industry, their work is not merely a chosen profession but a compelling calling. The delay in production, while understandable given the circumstances, is nonetheless disheartening for a team that is wholly dedicated to their craft.

The journey of The Last of Us, both onscreen and backstage, has been signified by substantial achievements and strenuous difficulties. The meticulous craftsmanship involved in bringing the infected, especially the bloater, to life underscores the dedication and passion of the team. As fans anxiously anticipate the subsequent chapter of this absorbing tale, there is aspiration that the production hurdles will be speedily vanquished, laying the groundwork for another fascinating season.