Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Certainly no other project has been made intoa hit TV series on HBO.
But before that happens, its Ellies brilliance and Davids disturbing interest in her that scares him the most.
How were you approached for a role in the TV series?I never was promised a role.
I was happy, on this one, to be in the stands rather than on the field.
Neil asked, How do you feel about playing James?
Im like, Oh, dude, thank you.
Thats what I love about this story.
This guy has an emotional stake in this story.
Ive got a rifle in my hand and a backpack, and there are cameras and a fake deer.
Scott, who plays David, was like, What are you doing?
This is not a funny scene.
I didnt see that.
It catches me off guard in the best way.
Was there a blind spot that I had?
Was there some element to it that we couldve explored more?
In the show, we have the opportunity to exploit some of those vulnerabilities.
Pedro does that in amazing ways.
We also dont have to be so locked into the camera beingbehindour two characters.
When you were working on the games, you were mainly playing off Ashley Johnson, who played Ellie.
They are so similar in so many ways.
Their mannerisms are very, very similar.
Neil and Craig have said, and aptly so, that they got lucky twice.
Thats what this role requires: careful, loving hands.
The story is now theirs, and we have an obligation to those people to truthfully tell these stories.
Do you think he really believes that?No, hes just a pragmatist.
and elevate himself to a position of tyrannical oppressor using religion and, more specifically, hope.
He weaponizes that for assume control of people.
James recognizes that within David; he knows David doesnt believe in this.
No, he found thetoolthat hope can be for people who are desperate.
James is the only one who doesnt pray.
He says, The girl is just another mouth to feed.
He doesnt want to eat her.
He just wants her gone.
The real reason he doesnt want Ellie is that his position right now is secure.
The second that little girl comes in here, his position is in jeopardy.
He can square his faith with cannibalism and with these pedophilic impulses that come out later in the episode.
Hes clearly using his religion as a tool.Absolutely.
There are things he says, especially about the Cordyceps: It protects itself.
Isnt it beautiful what this thing can do?
That, to me, is what makes him truly terrifying.
You mostly focus on voice acting, so this is one of relatively few live-action performances for you.
But the challenge never changes.
I need to make this character feel authentic and real enough for you to feel something.
Its a commerce of trust.
For me, man, Im a storyteller.
Because ultimately, at the end of the day, thats who we all are.
Were just storytellers trying to tell our story.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
