Season 1 adapted the events of the first game, while the sophomore outing tackled part of 2020's epic follow-up game, The Last of Us Part II. The Last of Us season 2 is set five years after season 1, focusing on Joel and Ellie as they are living in some semblance of society, though cracks are already beginning to form in their relationship and their fragile safety. Despite Joel's shocking death, the show had ample story to tell through The Last of Us season 2's remaining characters while setting up a powerful third season.
The Last Of Us Season 3 Latest News
More Details About The Last Of Us' Future Have Been Revealed
Before The Last of Us season 2 even concluded, the focus began to shift to the show's future on HBO. There's already confirmation that The Last of Us season 3 will be Abby's story, which may not come as a surprise to those familiar with the sequel game. After killing Joel, Kaitlyn Dever's Abby was absent for the remainder of the season until her reappearance in the season 2 finale. By following Abby, next season will also dive deeper into the WLF's war against the Scars.
Interestingly, Craig Mazin suggested The Last of Us needs season 4 to properly finish the story. There's no official word on HBO's decision to renew the series for a fourth season, but it sure seems like the wheels are in motion to plan out the story beyond the confirmed season 3. If following the previously used timeline, we could get renewal news ahead of season 3's debut. Either way, viewers can expect plenty more updates about the future of the show as production on season 3 gets moving.
The Last Of Us Season 3 Is Confirmed
HBO Renewed Season 3 Before The Season 2 Premiere
There's no denying that The Last of Us season 2 was one of the most anticipated TV shows of 2025, and the lengthy delays only increased the suspense. The video game adaptation took the world by storm in early 2023 and was quickly renewed. That's why it wasn't particularly shocking that HBO renewed The Last of Us for season 3 in April 2025, just a few days before the season 2 premiere. By guaranteeing that the show will be back for at least one more outing, viewers can rest easy knowing there's a lot more story to come.
Series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann each released statements regarding The Last of Us season 3's renewal:
Mazin: “We approached season two with the goal of creating something we could be proud of. The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals, thanks to our continued collaboration with HBO and the impeccable work of our unparalleled cast and crew. We look forward to continuing the story of THE LAST OF US with season three!”
Druckmann: “To see The Last of Us brought to life so beautifully and faithfully has been a career highlight for me, and I am grateful for the fans' enthusiastic and overwhelming support. Much of that success is thanks to my partner in crime, Craig Mazin, our partnership with HBO, and our team at PlayStation Productions. On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog, our cast, and crew, thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. We're thrilled to bring you more of THE LAST OF US!”
The Last Of Us Season 3 Cast Details
Who Will Survive Until Season 3?
Predicting the cast of The Last of Us season 3 is quite difficult because there are a ton of factors at play. First, it's unclear exactly how closely the show will stick with the game's story, meaning characters may actually live when they were supposed to die and vice versa. On the other hand, The Last of Us season 2's cliffhanger ending pushed character fate reveals to season 3. However, we know for sure that The Last of Us season 3 will heavily feature Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and likely other members of the WLF, like Isaac and Abby's crew.
The presumptive cast of The Last of Us season 3 will notably include the following:
Actor |
The Last of Us Role |
|
---|---|---|
Bella Ramsey |
Ellie |
|
Kaitlyn Dever |
Abby |
|
Gabriel Luna |
Tommy |
|
Young Mezino |
Jesse |
|
Isabela Merced |
Dina |
|
Jeffrey Wright |
Isaac |
|
The Last Of Us Season 3 Story Details
How Will The Series Adapt The Game?
While it's unclear if The Last of Us season 3 will cover the game beyond Abby's time in Seattle, the upcoming installment will very likely involve Bella Ramsey's Ellie and Isabela Merced's Dina in some capacity. That said, if the show follows the game structure, their appearances might be limited compared to season 2, and kept to the latter half of the episodes when the story returns to the confrontation in the theater.
If The Last of Us' showrunners want a season 4, it suggests that Abby's POV will make up all or the bulk of the third season. That would mean that the events following the theater ambush would stretch out into a potential season 4, closing out the arcs of the remaining characters. Still, Abby's own story will be intriguing, especially with how it involves the war between the WLF and Seraphites. Regardless of what happens in The Last of Us season 3, there is still plenty of the game left to pull from.