The Last of Us Creator Just Confirmed the Star of Season 3

If your ears are still ringing from the Last of Us season 2 finale, you're not alone. The cliff-hanger ending left fans buzzing about what's next in season 3. While it may be quite some time before the show returns on HBO, there are plenty of hints of what's to come in the ongoing story of Ellie, Abby, and their postapocalyptic world.

"We approached season two with the goal of creating something we could be proud of," said Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin in an April 9 press release that formally announced the start of production on season 3. "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!"

Based on the PlayStation video game series of the same name, The Last of Us takes place in a postapocalyptic America after the world fell from an outbreak that turned most humans into zombielike monsters. In its first season, which premiered on HBO in 2023, the show revolved around a survivor named Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) who smuggles a teenager, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), across the country, the two harboring the secret that her immunity may be key to the world's survival.

Season 2, which premiered April 13 and ended May 25, takes place five years after the end of season 1. (It is also based on the game The Last of Us Part II, from 2020.) One of the season's biggest moments was the murder of Joel by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), who sought payback after Joel killed her father in season 1. In season 3, the show is expected to take on a new perspective to follow Abby's side of the story.

For everything else we know about season 3, follow along below.

What Will Happen in The Last of Us Season 3?

Season 3 is expected to center on Kaitlyn Dever's Abby and retrace the events of seasons 1 and 2 from her perspective. While this was widely theorized based on the show emulating The Last of Us Part II—which frequently shifted perspectives between Abby and Ellie—it was finally confirmed on June 10 at an Emmys FYC event that featured the cast and creators of The Last of Us in conversation.

While speaking to a larger point about how The Last of Us felt at home at HBO because of some of the show's "controversial decisions"—such as killing fan favorite Joel so early in the season—Druckmann confirmed season 3 would star Kaitlyn Dever as Abby. "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," Druckmann said. "Meaning like we just ended season 2, and season 3 is going to be starring, spoiler alert, Kaitlyn."

After the show traces Abby's steps that lead to her shooting Ellie—or at least shooting someone—in the abandoned Seattle theater, it's safe to assume the show will finally reveal just how badly Abby hurt Ellie.

When Will Season 3 Premiere?

Two years passed between The Last of Us season 1 and 2. Several factors led to the delay, including both a writers strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike. Still, I wouldn’t bet that the next season will air until late 2026 at the earliest. Much like House of the Dragon and The White Lotus, prestige HBO shows take a bit longer to film.

Stay sharp and keep your aim steady. It seems the worst is yet to come.