‘The Last of Us’ Fans Respond to Bella Ramsey Being Cast as Ellie Instead of ‘Last Man Standing’ Star Kaitlyn Dever

Following Bella Ramsey‘s casting announcement in HBO’s The Last of Us, social media erupted as fans of the video game flooded their timelines with their reactions –– many of whom favored Kaitlyn Dever for the role over the 17-year-old Game of Thrones star.

Ramsey will play the 14-year-old orphan Ellie, who lives in a ravaged society and deals with the trouble of balancing her instinct and anger as well as defiance and her desire for connection. Yet, with all of these issues, she could still be the one to save the world.

Dever, known for her roles in Last Man Standing and Booksmart against the HBO young titan, sounds like a match up too good to be true, which fans are also aware of. People joined in the social media conversation, adding that though Ramsey was cast, the two were a very even match and might be okay with either option.

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When asked about her feelings on the video game, Dever told Collider: “Well, this is the first time I’m being asked about this. Listen, I am a huge fan of the game, and I don’t know if a lot of people know that, but I’m saying it now; I am a huge fan of that video game. I think it is a beautiful story. It’s just a wonderful narrative, and I fell in love with that game when it came out. And I played it with my dad and we just had the best time. I’m not very good at it. My aim is really bad, but I’m working on getting better at playing. But I love The Last of Us. I think it’s an incredible story. I obviously have been seeing the Internet, and I’ve obviously been seeing a lot of that. Neil Druckmann, I worked with him on Uncharted 4. I think he’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met, and one of the sweetest. And I’m not shutting it down, you know? I’m not shutting it down. I would absolutely love to do that. But I don’t know where it’s at yet. But I love The Last Of Us.”

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The popular fan-casting didn’t happen, but players of the game aren’t disappointed in HBO’s choice. The two girls have both been recognized at various levels for their acting abilities. Ramsey holds one BAFTA win and a SAG nomination. Dever earned a Golden Globe nod for her role in Netflix’s limited series Unbelievable.

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People have been pushing for Dever to take on the role because of her acting range and ability –– a skill she proved in the limited series Unbelievable. Additionally, many think she looks like the game’s character Ellie.

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Some fans were also hoping to see Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as the show’s Joel, however Pedro Pascal was cast instead. Pascal’s recent credits include Wonder Woman 1984 and The Mandalorian.

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Pascal and Ramsey both starred in Game of Thrones. Pascal portrayed Oberyn Martell for one season in 2014. Ramsey joined the franchise in 2016 as Lyanna Mormont.

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Casting choices aside, it seems fans are still looking forward to watching the live-action version of the popular video game.