HBO is adding several familiar faces to the third season of its hit post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us. John Goodman, Ian Alexander and Laura Bailey have joined the cast, with all three set to play new characters in the upcoming season.
The casting news was announced on September 26, a date widely recognized by fans as The Last of Us Day. Meanwhile, Season 3 is expected to premiere in 2027, although HBO has yet to announce a specific release date.
John Goodman Joins The Last of Us Season 3
Goodman, known for The Conners and The Righteous Gemstones, will play a character named Joey. He will appear alongside Ian Alexander, who has been cast as Paco.
Together, Joey and Paco are described as a friendly pair who call themselves the “Heroes of the Highway.” As a result, their arrival will introduce another group of survivors to the show’s dangerous post-apocalyptic world.
Moreover, the role marks another major HBO project for Goodman following his work on The Righteous Gemstones.
Ian Alexander and Laura Bailey Take on New Roles
Interestingly, the casting news also has a strong connection to The Last of Us video games. Both Ian Alexander and Laura Bailey previously worked on The Last of Us: Part II.
Alexander voiced Lev in the game, while Bailey provided the voice and motion-capture performance for Abby. However, they will portray completely different characters in HBO’s television adaptation.
Kaitlyn Dever plays Abby in the series, while Kyriana Kratter portrays Lev. Meanwhile, Bailey will take on the role of Elizabeth, who is described as a leader within the Seraphites.
Season 3 Will Explore More of Abby’s Story
Following the events of Season 2, the upcoming season is expected to place greater attention on Abby Anderson. In particular, the story is set to explore her journey in greater detail while revisiting the events in Seattle from her perspective.
As a result, viewers could see familiar events unfold from a different point of view. At the same time, the Seraphites are expected to become an important part of the story as Season 3 moves forward.
More New Faces Join the HBO Series
Goodman, Alexander and Bailey are joining an expanding Season 3 cast. The new additions come alongside Jason Ritter, Patrick Wilson, Clea DuVall and Jorge Lendeborg Jr.
Furthermore, several familiar stars are expected to return. The returning cast includes Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Gabriel Luna, Jeffrey Wright, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle and Spencer Lord.
Additionally, Lendeborg Jr. is taking over the role of Manny after Danny Ramirez left the series because of scheduling conflicts.
The Last of Us Season 3 Release Date
For now, HBO has confirmed 2027 as the release window for The Last of Us Season 3. However, the network has not revealed an exact premiere date or shared extensive details about the upcoming storyline.
Nevertheless, the addition of John Goodman, along with the return of two The Last of Us game performers in entirely new roles, gives Season 3 another notable connection to the franchise’s video-game roots.
About the author
Daya Nanoskar is an Entertainment Writer at Awesome TV and a contributor to AWSM Times. Daya covers film news, streaming releases, celebrity updates and industry news across Hollywood and Bollywood, and has written more than 2,300 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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