The HBO drama series The Last of Us became one of the most acclaimed shows for the network when it was released in early 2023. The post-apocalyptic drama based on the popular video game of the same name by Naughty Dog starred Pedro Pascal as the protagonist Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the girl he is tasked to protect.
The show also had multiple guest stars who were extremely important to the plot. One of them was Nick Offerman’s Bill, who starred in one of the best episodes of the season. Offerman’s performance was appreciated and he even won the Emmy Creative Arts for Outstanding Guest Actor. He revealed that there was a pitch for a spin-off based on his character Bill and his partner Frank, which fans are not happy with. Spoilers ahead.
Nick Offerman As Bill In The Last Of Us
The HBO series The Last of Us is set twenty years after a global pandemic caused by a fungal infection which leads to the affected being turned into zombies. The show stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, a survivor who is tasked with protecting an immune child named Ellie, who is played by Bella Ramsey. The duo has to survive the post-apocalyptic USA.
Joel and Ellie meet Nick Offerman’s Bill in the third episode titled, ‘Long, Long Time’. Bill is a survivalist, whose distrust towards the Government made him prepared for the pandemic. He encounters a survivor named Frank, who stumbles upon his house and they begin a relationship after their shared love for food and music.
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When Joel and Ellie meet Bill, Frank is revealed to be terminally ill and asks Bill to assist him in s*icide. However, in an emotional moment in the show, Bill decides to join Frank as he states that he would not be able to love without Frank. The two die together in the episode, leaving behind a letter for Joel which bequeaths him of all of Bill’s assets.
Nick Offerman received the Primetime Emmy Creative Arts Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Offerman revealed to Deadline that he was lucky to have been chosen for the as he joked that the role first went to Harrison Ford and only came to him later as both of them were the only ones in Hollywood who knew how to use a shovel.
Also read: “S*ck it Pedro”: Golden Globes Winner Kieran Culkin’s Cheeky Dig at Pedro Pascal Goes Viral
Nick Offerman’s The Last of Us Spin-off Pitch Upsets Fans
While Nick Offerman’s Bill dies at the end of The Last of Us’ third episode, the actor mentioned that he would love to reprise the role in either a flashback or a spin-off series that would see the lives of Bill and Murray Bartlett’s Frank before they meet each other in The Last of Us.
Nick Offerman revealed to Deadline the range of ideas that have been pitched to HBO based on Bill and Frank,
“Oh, great question but I would have to ask somebody with a higher pay grade than myself. It certainly has been pitched. I think we pitched a whole mini-series of a prequel of their lives before they met each other. It could be a musical. We’re not short on ideas. We’ll just we’ll see what Craig [Mazin] and Neil [Druckmann] come up with.”
While a musical would be off-brand for The Last of Us, a potential spin-off on Bill and Frank seemed to have been received negatively by fans on the Internet. Many state that the perfect ending given in The Last of Us would be ruined by more back-story and elaboration on the two characters, something which was already implied in the show.
We don’t need this
— Ri§en (@RisenLN_2) January 8, 2024
Absolutely no one is asking for this
— T (@ANTMEND97) January 8, 2024
Very good way to ruin both characters who’ve already had both of their life stories told
— Chef Frank (@BallerNine9) January 8, 2024
Ah yes let’s watch two guys in a house spend 20 years doing nothing. I’m good
— Endymion (@EndymionYT) January 8, 2024
As much as I like Nick as an actor as a gamer who throughly enjoyed the series. I don’t see much of a reason for this. I don’t see it gaining much traction. I would rather see other spin-offs of the series. Like what Joel did for 20 years prior to the QZ with Tommy. pic.twitter.com/KVfnHAxXMt
— CMac (@TurtleMac24) January 8, 2024
We already had a whole episode dedicated to this and it was very tastefully and properly done. Anything extra will just be unnecessary.
— Jake (@FSAPOJake) January 8, 2024
Fans seem to be completely against the idea of a spin-off and would rather have the studio work on season 2 and other potential spin-offs that might benefit from developing them more.
