The post-apocalypse is getting some new faces, folks! On the same day that another third mainline entry in a dystopian sci-fi horror franchise with noise-sensitive primary antagonists has just revealed a slew of new casting announcements (that’d be John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place: Part III), HBO’s The Last Of Us has just confirmed some juicy roster news of its own as Craig Mazin’s critically acclaimed videogame adaptation readies its third run-out. Per Deadline‘s reporting, The Conjuring talisman Patrick Wilson and Gravity Falls fave Jason Ritter have joined The Last Of Us Season 3, with Wilson specifically landing an incredibly key role.
The third season of The Last Of Us, which Craig Mazin is set to showrun solo following co-creator (and game maker) Neil Druckmann’s exit from the show last year, is set to see Bella Ramsey’s Ellie take a back seat as the story picks up from The Last Of Us Part II deuteragonist Abby’s (Kaitlyn Dever) POV. With that expected perspective shift will come the introduction of Wilson in a recurring role as Abby’s beloved father Jerry, *SPOILER ALERT* a man who — as we learned in The Last Of Us Season 2 — is one of the doctors Joel killed while ‘saving’ Ellie at the end of Season 1. Ritter meanwhile (who has technically been in the show already alongside wife Melanie Lynskey, albeit as an uncredited clicker voice) is entering the fray properly in S3 as WLF soldier Hanley. Both Ritter and Wilson’s casting also comes with the news that Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord — who play Mel, Nora and Owen — have been upped to series regulars for the upcoming third (and possibly final) season.
In recent weeks, we’ve also learned that Clea DuVall is joining The Last Of Us Season 3 and will portray a seraphite, while Jorge Lendeborg Jr. is also coming aboard to take over the role of Manny following Danny Ramirez’s exit from the show. With Druckmann and TLOU Part II and Season 2 finale co-writer Halley Gross having left HBO’s cordyceps-addled golden goose, new cast members coming in, and potentially a huge narrative swing about to take place as The Last Of Us Season 3 heads our way, it’s anybody’s guess how things will ultimately shake out. One thing we can guarantee is that we’ll be watching, and we’ll surely be bringing you more news from the post-apocalypse in the weeks and months ahead. Stay tuned, baby girl — it’s gonna be emotional.
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