The Last of Us’ Season 3 will finally tell Abby’s story
The Last of Us’ Season 3 will finally tell Abby’s story
Kaitlyn Dever is taking on a much bigger role as the show goes back three days.
I’ve played (and finished) both “The Last of Us” Part I and Part II, and there’s no question they’re masterpieces. Not only is the gameplay some of the best out there, but the writing does what almost every video game fails to do: gets you emotionally invested in the characters. And the good news is, when it comes to the TV adaptation, the material doesn’t lose a step. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it elevates it consistently (though there are a few episodes in Season 1 that do), but it hits the same highs as the games and is worthy of the “The Last of Us” name. Now that both video game stories have been told in Seasons 1 and 2 (…or have they?), it’s time for Season 3. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming third season of “The Last of Us.”
Everything you need to know about ‘The Last of Us’
When does ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3 come out?
There’s no release date yet, but 2027 is when “The Last of Us” Season 3 is expected to land on HBO and HBO Max. Production has started, casting news is flowing (see below), and it sounds like we’ll get more than the seven episodes we got in Season 2.
Can you watch ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3 for free once it starts streaming?
Probably not as HBO Max doesn’t offer a standard free trial. The cheapest way to watch “The Last of Us” Season 3 is with the $11 per month ad-supported HBO Max plan. That’s what I have, and you get access to the entire HBO library, which is a treat. If you hate commercials, you can go ad-free for $18.50 per month, or upgrade to Premium to get that slick 4K resolution for $23 per month.
HBO Max
HBO Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library and exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Within HBO Max, B/R Sports allows users to watch live NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.
What is ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3 about?
Warning: Spoilers ahead for “The Last of Us” Season 2.
If you’ve played the video game, “The Last of Us: Part II,” then you probably have a pretty good idea of what’s coming in the third season of the show. Season 2 follows Ellie through Seattle as she hunts Abby down for killing Joel. In the video game, this is told from two different perspectives. First, you see Ellie’s side of the story (just like Season 2). But then it switches. You get to see Abby’s life, her friends, her work at the WLF base, her interactions with the Seraphites, including Yara and Lev, and all the missions she goes on in the lead-up to the confrontation with Ellie at the theater.
And in a nutshell, that’s what Season 3 is expected to be — Abby’s side of the story. Obviously, the end of Season 2 alludes to this by jumping three days earlier with Abby waking up at the WLF compound and going to see Isaac. So, it’s a good bet that we’re going to see the lead-up to the theater confrontation, this time from Abby’s side. And as someone who’s played the game, let me tell you it’s really going to mess with your allegiances in a weird and very satisfying way.
Who stars in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3?
Kaitlyn Dever is back as Abby, with Bella Ramsey returning as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Deadline also reports that Michelle Mao will play Yara, Kyriana Kratter will play Lev, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. will take over as Manny, and Clea DuVall will play a Seraphite.
Patrick Wilson also joins as Abby’s father, Jerry, while John Goodman, Ian Alexander, Laura Bailey, Peter Sarsgaard, Jason Ritter, and Li Jun Li have also joined the cast in new roles. Alexander and Bailey are cool additions if you’ve played the game, because they voice Lev and Abby in “The Last of Us Part II.” And if you’re hoping for a Pedro Pascal appearance, well, his character is dead… but that just means we’ll need a good flashback scene if we’re going to see him (please!).
Who’s making ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3?
Craig Mazin is the sole showrunner for Season 3 after co-running the first two seasons with Neil Druckmann. The big question hanging over all of this is whether this is going to be the final season of ”The Last of Us.” Deadline reported in September 2026 that HBO boss Casey Bloys believes Mazin has now planned Season 3 as the end. There’s nothing official yet, but for what it’s worth, I think it makes sense after finishing Part II of the video game. I think it ends on the perfect note, and if Season 3 can nail the emotional component like the game does, I say let it lie.
The Last of Us
Twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed, Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the United States and depend on each other for survival.