When Josh Peck unexpectedly appeared in the opening scene of The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4, viewers did a double take.

Best known for his Nickelodeon roots, Peck slipped into the boots of a hardened FEDRA soldier, delivering a chilling monologue that set the tone for Isaac Dixon’s defection flashback.

Here’s how Peck prepared for this surprise cameo, tackled the tonal shift of his character, and brought authenticity to HBO’s hit series.

From Nick to FEDRA: Landing the Cameo

Josh Peck’s journey to the post-apocalyptic streets of Seattle began with a deceptively simple audition.

Josh Peck’s The Last of Us Cameo

“I knew how big [The Last of Us] was,” Peck admits, “but I didn’t binge it until I booked the gig.” Once cast, he watched the entire first season in one sitting, ensuring his performance would match the show’s grim aesthetic and emotional weight.

Peck’s soldier starts the sequence in a cramped FEDRA van alongside Jeffrey Wright’s Isaac Dixon. Tasked with humanizing a brutal regime, Peck drew from personal anecdotes rather than the fictional horrors of FEDRA. “I tapped into stories I’d shared with friends,” he explains. “It made the dark material feel real to me, even if it’s nothing like my own life.”

Nailing the FEDRA Monologue

The highlight of Peck’s cameo is the twisted “voters” monologue, where he jokes about oppressing civilians under the guise of democracy. Balancing ignorance and remorse, Peck’s delivery transitions from flippant humor to genuine regret once Isaac calls him out.

“Ignorance is a good word,” Peck reflects. “He tells this awful story, then gets chastised—who hasn’t felt that at school or work?”

Despite the scene’s brutality, the monologue was shot word-for-word from Craig Mazin’s script. “Good writing is like music,” Peck says. “You don’t want to change a note.” Multiple takes allowed Peck to explore different emotional flavors, but the core text remained sacrosanct.

Inside the Van: Technical Challenges

Filming inside a FEDRA transport posed unique challenges. Rather than using a stock vehicle, the production team built a van shell on a soundstage, removing every panel to accommodate cameras. “They could shoot from any angle,” Peck explains, “so it felt more like a LEGO set than a car.”

Josh Peck’s The Last of Us Cameo

Acoustic considerations were equally complex. Josh Peck and his co-actors had to modulate their voices to avoid unwanted echoes while maintaining the scene’s claustrophobic atmosphere. “We had all day on set,” he recalls, “but every take needed its own energy.”

Sharing the Screen with Jeffrey Wright

Working opposite Emmy-winner Jeffrey Wright proved another career high. “I’m a huge fan of his work in Basquiat,” Josh Peck notes. Discovering Wright would play Isaac added to his excitement. “I saw his headshot at my fitting and went, ‘That’s incredible!’” The pair’s chemistry underlines the sequence, with Wright’s composed defection contrasting sharply against Peck’s soldierly bravado.

Behind the Scenes: Peck’s Preparation

Preparation for the cameo went beyond research. Peck waited anxiously for last-minute script revisions—a common TV hazard. “I was terrified they’d rewrite the monologue,” he laughs. Series creator Craig Mazin teased him on set: “What if I had changed everything on you last night?” Thankfully, Mazin kept the text intact.

Josh Peck also reveals a playful strategy to combat “cold start” nerves: sharing inside jokes with crew members before rolling. “We’d get the giggles just so I could start with that energy,” he admits. This secret tactic helped him dive quickly into his soldier’s mindset.

Fan Reactions and Future Roles

Since the episode aired, social media buzz has been relentless. Fans praised Josh Peck’s surprising darker turn and seamless integration into The Last of Us universe.

“I’ll probably stay off the internet when it drops,” Peck jokes. “People will have opinions, but I hope they enjoy it.”

Looking ahead, Peck is selective about future projects. Post-Nickelodeon hits like Oppenheimer and The Last of Us have set a new bar.

“I try to do roles I’d want to watch,” he says. Whether that’s high-stakes drama or offbeat indie films, Peck remains committed to challenging himself.

A Cameo to Remember

Josh Peck in ‘The Last of Us’ cameo proves that even a brief appearance can leave a lasting impact—especially when backed by thoughtful preparation, strong writing, and a willingness to explore uncharted dramatic territory.

As the series continues, viewers will no doubt eagerly anticipate any return of Peck’s memorable FEDRA soldier or his next unexpected role.