HBO says that Season 3 of The Last of Us is officially underway and will come out in 2027. From where Season 2 left off, the new season will pick up with Abby’s story.
There will be big changes ahead, but Ellie and Joel will be back. So far, there will be new characters and plot twists and this is what we know about Season 3 of The Last of Us.
Is The Last of Us Season 3 Coming Out?
Image © 2025 HBO / Sony Pictures Television / Naughty Dog
Yes, there will be a third season of The Last of Us. HBO announced that the third season of its popular TV show will come out in 2027. The writing is well underway, but filming hasn’t begun yet. Fans can look forward to a longer season than the second one, with more episodes and more in-depth plots.
HBO Confirms: The Third Season Arrives in 2027
Showrunner Craig Mazin is in charge of making the next season and is working closely with HBO. Recent news says that filming will likely start as soon as the scripts are finished. It’s up to HBO to decide if this will be one more long season or split into two seasons.
- Writing Progress: Mazin said that, as of August 2025, he is still working on the scripts.
- Episode Count: The third season will be longer than the second, but not as long as the first.
- Season Structure: HBO is deciding whether to make one more long season or keep going with four.
- Where to Watch: Once again, the third season will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Story Focus: Abby’s Journey in the Second Half of the Game
The third season will be about the second half of the video game The Last of Us Part II. From Seattle Day One on, the story is told from Abby’s point of view, giving fans a new way to see what happened that was shown through Ellie in the second season.
- Based on the Game: After Part II, when the player changes from Ellie to Abby, the show starts.
- New Story Lens: Abby’s time at the WLF Stadium is likely to be shown in the first episode.
- Emotional Weight: Important events from Abby’s point of view will explain her decisions and links.
- Creative Freedom: There may be new scenes in the TV show that weren’t in the video game.
The Last of Us Season 3 Cast List
Image © 2025 HBO / Sony Pictures Television / Naughty Dog
A lot of the cast will be back for the third season of the television series, but there will also be some new faces to reflect how the game’s focus has changed. Even though Joel’s death changes things, Pedro Pascal is still likely to show up in flashbacks. The show will also give Abby’s group of friends deeper storylines.
Returning Cast Members for the Upcoming Season
The show keeps familiar faces on screen even though some characters have left because of flashbacks and non-linear plots.
- Kaitlyn Dever as Abby: In the third season, she takes the lead.
- Bella Ramsey as Ellie: They are still important to the story, but they don’t have as much screen time.
- Pedro Pascal as Joel: Though Joel has died, they are still expected to show up in flashbacks.
- Supporting Cast: Isabela Merced (Dina), Gabriel Luna (Tommy), and Jeffrey Wright (Isaac) are returning.
New Characters and Expanding Roles in the HBO Series
Based on the second game, the third season adds more characters to the world, including Abby’s friends, enemies, and emotional pasts.
- Abby’s Crew: Spencer Lord will play Owen, Tati Gabrielle will play Nora, and Ariela Barer will play Mel.
- New Dynamics: Danny Ramirez, who plays Manny, and Alanna Ubach, who plays Hanna, become WLF fighters.
- Seraphites Return: In the next season, the religious enemy group from the game will show up.
- Room for Originals: Craig Mazin gave hints that the HBO show would have new characters made just for it.
Has The Last of Us 3 Been Confirmed?
Image © 2025 HBO / Sony Pictures Television / Naughty Dog
Fans still don’t know if there will be a third video game. So far, Naughty Dog hasn’t made The Last of Us Part III official. Neil Druckmann, the creator, has dropped hints that the story may go on, though.
Neil Druckmann’s Update on the Game’s Future
Druckmann finally came up with a new idea that could lead to a third game, which was shown in a behind-the-scenes documentary. Still, he said in a recent interview, “this could be it,” which made fans wonder.
- Solid Concept: However, Druckmann doesn’t have a full story yet. He only has a theme and a direction.
- No Green Light Yet: There’s no proof that the third game is being made.
- New Priorities: Naughty Dog is working on a new project right now called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
- Following Craig’s Lead: The success of the show could affect whether the game goes on.
Could There Be a Fourth Season of the TV Series?
There are enough seasons in the second game to last two more. There will be Abby’s story in the third season, and Ellie’s story could end in the fourth season.
- Season 3 Focus: From Day One to Day Three in Seattle, this book tells Abby’s story.
- Season 4 Speculation: Could look into Ellie’s ending, The Farm, and Santa Barbara.
- Unconfirmed Plans: HBO hasn’t said for sure if it will approve all four seasons.
- Narrative Goal: Craig Mazin wants to keep the second game’s storyline the same.
Did Bella Ramsey Quit The Last of Us Season 3?
Image © 2025 HBO / Sony Pictures Television / Naughty Dog
Bella Ramsey didn’t quit The Last of Us, no. She will still be in the third season, but her part will be smaller than it was in the second season. This isn’t because of drama or casting issues; it’s because the story of the game has changed. Fans can rest easy knowing that Ellie’s story has a lot more to come.
Bella Ramsey Is Returning, Just in a Smaller Role
After Ellie became less noticeable at the finale of the second season, some viewers started to doubt Ramsey’s return. However, Ramsey and the show’s creators have both said she will be back for the next season.
- Bella’s statement: “I think I’m going to be there, but not a whole bunch.”
- Showrunner support: Craig Mazin mentioned, “We haven’t seen the last of Bella.”
- No truth to rumors: It’s not true that she quit or was fired.
- Writers’ plan: The smaller role is built into the game, not a problem with casting.
Why Ellie’s Screen Time Is Getting Cut in Season 3
Most of the third season will be about Abby’s story. Casey Bloys said in April that this season would be significantly larger than the last one, which would allow for more characters and plots. Ellie’s part will get bigger in later episodes, or maybe even in a fourth season.
- Game alignment: After the second game’s change in point of view, Season 3 comes next.
- Filming schedule: Bloys told Variety that the show will begin filming once the writing is done.
- Viewer expectations: Fans are still hoping that Ellie will come back in full.
- No reason to doubt: The change is in the source material, not in how the actor plays the part.
Final Thoughts
The Last of Us season 3 looks like it will be the most emotional part of the franchise so far. The story will now be about Abby in the next season, which is directly related to the second game. Bella Ramsey will be back as Ellie, and new characters like Isabela Merced will keep making the world bigger.
Casey Bloys said that the TV show might have two more seasons. Fans can look forward to it starting to film after July, and it might air by next April. People are excited to play, talk, and stay connected as every new season of The Last of Us is renewed.
FAQs
Did they replace Bella Ramsey?
No, Bella Ramsey is not being replaced in The Last of Us Season 3 and will still play Ellie in the upcoming season.
Who will play Ellie in Season 3?
Bella Ramsey continues to play Ellie in US Season 3, as confirmed by the TV series creators and Last of Us fans.
Who does Ellie have a baby with?
In the second game, Ellie raises a baby with Dina, but the story changes in the TV series may surprise viewers.
Is Bella Ramsey removed from Last of Us?
No, Ramsey is still part of The Last of Us Season 3, and her character is tied to major storylines with Abby and other characters.
Why did they change Ellie’s face?
The face of Ellie was not changed in the TV series, but differences between the game and television world may confuse fans who play the game or watch Season 2.