The Last of Us Showrunners Confirm Season 3 Will Be [Spoiler’s] Story

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Fans will be in for a surprise when The Last of Us Season 3 hits screens. The new installment will officially focus on Kaitlyn Dever’s character, Abby.

Showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin shared the news while speaking at an Emmy’s FYC event about adapting the game’s stories and not backing down from its divisive twists. «I think it was good to go on that journey to end up at HBO, end up at a place that leaned into those controversial decisions,» Druckmann said, referring to Joel’s death. «But the decisions are just what the story required, and even now, it’s like I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way. Meaning, like we just ended Season 2, and Season 3 is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn [Dever],» he added via The Hollywood Reporter.

After moderator and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney joked about whether HBO knew about this narrative swing before approving the show, Druckmann praised the company for going along with The Last of Us‘ direction. «I was sure that they wouldn’t let us do this when we started adapting this, but they’ve leaned into what makes, I believe, the story special, and allowed us not only the time but the creative freedom to be able to take these swings, and I think the audience really appreciates that,» he added.

The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Shifted Perspectives

Much like its source material, The Last of Us Part II, Season 2 ended with a massive perspective shift between protagonist Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby after the former got revenge on Abby’s friends for participating in Joel’s death. While Dever didn’t appear much throughout the season, the finale saw Abby confront Ellie at gunpoint before flashing back to her point of view on the day Ellie came to Seattle.

This was a clear hint at Season 3, revealing what she was up to while Season 2 played out. That means the return of companions Nora, Owen, Manny, and Mel along with WLF leader Isaac, who was last seen planning a major attack on the militia’s territorial rivals, the Seraphites. It remains to be seen who HBO will cast as Lev and Yara, two Seraphite fugitives who play a pivotal role in Abby’s section of the game.

Though The Last of Us Season 2 polarized critics — mirroring the reaction to Part II of the game when compared to Past I — its finale set viewership records, reaching 90 million views by the end of May. Work on Season 3 will not begin immediately, with Dina actor Isabela Merced suggesting production might begin sometime in 2026.

The Last of Us is available to stream on Max.