The Last of Us Season 3 Casts John Goodman, Laura Bailey

HBO has revealed three new cast members joining The Last of Us for its third and likely final season. John Goodman, Laura Bailey, and Ian Alexander will all appear in the upcoming chapter of the post-apocalyptic series.

John Goodman joins as Joey

John Goodman will play Joey, an original character described as a 'Hero of the Highway.' He teams up with Paco, a character played by Ian Alexander. The duo forms a partnership within the show's ravaged world. Goodman is a Golden Globe and Emmy winner known for roles in films like The Big Lebowski and Monsters, Inc.

Laura Bailey and Ian Alexander return in new roles

Laura Bailey and Ian Alexander are no strangers to The Last of Us universe, but they are taking on new characters for the live-action series. Bailey, who famously voiced Abby in The Last of Us: Part II video game, has been cast as Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a leader of the radical religious sect known as the Seraphites, a group referenced but never shown in the games. Bailey previously had a cameo in the show's first season.

Ian Alexander, who provided the voice for Lev in The Last of Us Part II, will play Paco. In the series, the character of Lev is portrayed by Kyriana Kratter. This casting continues the show's pattern of pulling actors from the video games, a list that also includes Jeffrey Wright and Merle Dandridge reprising their game roles.

Season 3 continues Abby’s story amid major changes

The new season will focus on Abby Anderson's arc, with Kaitlyn Dever playing the role. The Seraphites are set to play a major part in her story. This season also marks a significant production shift. It will be the first without direct involvement from game director and co-creator Neil Druckmann, who is focusing on game development projects like Intergalactic. Craig Mazin is now the series' sole showrunner.

Additional casting for the season includes several notable names in new parts. Patrick Wilson will play Jerry, Abby's father. Peter Sarsgaard is cast as Amon, another leader of the Seraphites. Jason Ritter joins as a WLF soldier named Hanley, and Li Jun Li will play a Seraphite named Miriam. The role of Manny will be taken over by Michelle Mao, Clea DuVall, and Jorge Lendeborg after Danny Ramirez could not return due to scheduling conflicts.

While the third season is widely expected to conclude the series, HBO has not made a definitive statement. Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, would not confirm it as the last. He did offer a telling note, saying, "I believe Mazin has planned it as the final season." Fans looking for more concrete details can tune into a The Last of Us-focused livestream hosted by Naughty Dog on September 28th. The event is expected to reveal more about the third season and possibly upcoming games.