The Last of Us, HBO’s critically acclaimed video game adaptation, has captivated audiences with its emotional storytelling and complex characters.
As fans eagerly await the next chapter, here’s everything we know about Season 3, from its anticipated release window to major creative changes and story developments.
🗓️ Release Date Speculation: When Can We Expect Season 3?
According to HBO and Max’s content chairman and CEO Casey Bloys, The Last of Us Season 3 is “definitely planned for 2027” .
This timeline aligns with the approximately two-year gap between previous seasons, with Season 1 having aired in 2023 and Season 2 premiering in April 2025.
Showrunner Craig Mazin is currently in the writing process, as he revealed in an August 2025 interview: “
This is kind of my favorite time. It’s very quiet. It’s just sitting here with my wonderful ergonomic keyboard and clacking away. The pages are happening” .
Production is expected to begin in 2026, with actress Isabela Merced (Dina) mentioning in a May 2025 interview that filming “should be next year” .
📖 Story and Plot Details: Abby’s Story Takes Center Stage
Season 3 will mark a significant narrative shift, focusing primarily on Abby’s perspective during the events that paralleled Ellie’s journey in Season 2 .
This adaptation choice mirrors the structure of The Last of Us Part II video game, where players experience both characters’ viewpoints.
The season will explore:
- Abby’s backstory and motivations, particularly her relationship with her father (the surgeon Joel killed at the end of Season 1)
- The war between the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) and the Seraphites
- Abby’s relationships with her crew, including Owen, Nora, Mel, and Manny
- New characters Lev and Yara, who become essential to Abby’s story
The Season 2 finale hinted at this perspective shift with its “Seattle Day One” title card, indicating we’ll see events from Abby’s point of view .
Those who played the game know this narrative approach adds depth and complexity to what initially seemed like a straightforward revenge story.
🎬 Showrunner News: Mazin Takes the Reins Solo
A significant development for Season 3 is Neil Druckmann’s departure as co-showrunner.
Druckmann, who co-created both the video game franchise and the television series, announced in July 2025 that he was stepping back from the HBO show to focus on his role as head of Naughty Dog and the development of a new game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet .
Writer Halley Gross, who co-wrote The Last of Us Part II game and worked on the television series, has also exited the show . This leaves Craig Mazin as the sole showrunner and writer for Season 3 .
Despite these changes, Mazin assures fans that the creative process remains largely unchanged: “Neil’s always had a full-time job running Naughty Dog, so it’s always been me up in Canada [where the production is].
Ultimately, things are pretty much going to proceed as usual” .
He emphasized that they had already done significant planning for future seasons while working on Season 2: “We really did get that work in.
You can’t really tell half that story without thinking about what the whole story should be” .
👥 Cast and Characters: Who’s Returning?
While official casting announcements are still to come, we can expect several key returns and new additions:
Expected Returning Cast:
- Kaitlyn Dever as Abby (stepping into a lead role)
- Bella Ramsey as Ellie (likely in a reduced capacity compared to Season 2)
- Isabela Merced as Dina
- Gabriel Luna as Tommy
- Jeffrey Wright as Isaac
Potential New Additions:
- Characters Lev and Yara, who play crucial roles in Abby’s story
- New characters created specifically for the show
Unlikely to Return:
- Catherine O’Hara (Gail) confirmed she “definitely” wouldn’t be appearing in Season 3 due to its focus on Abby’s story
- Pedro Pascal (Joel) may only appear in flashbacks, if at all
🎥 Season 3 Production: Episode Count and Format
Season 2 consisted of seven episodes, but Mazin has hinted that Season 3 will be longer . He stated: “We’re kind of fiddling around with that – it’s a little bit of a trade secret at the moment.
But I will say that season three will be longer than season two. Season three will be more on par with season one. More bang for the buck” .
This suggests we can expect approximately nine episodes for Season 3, similar to the first season. Mazin also mentioned that he typically directs the first episode of each season and might consider directing more episodes in Season 3, though he acknowledged the logistical challenges of balancing writing and directing responsibilities .
🔮 Future of the Series: Will There Be a Season 4?
The broader narrative arc beyond Season 3 remains somewhat uncertain. Mazin has previously stated that the full story would likely require four seasons , telling Collider: “There’s no way to complete this narrative in a third season.
Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome” .
However, HBO’s Casey Bloys indicated in July 2025 that this wasn’t yet set in stone: “Craig is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season.
It hasn’t been decided yet, and I’m following Craig’s lead on that” .
If the series continues with its current structure, Season 3 would likely cover Abby’s perspective during the Seattle events, while a potential Season 4 would adapt the latter portion of the game, including The Farm segment and the final confrontation in Santa Barbara .
✅ Conclusion: Patience Will Be Required
With a likely 2027 release date, fans of The Last of Us will need to exercise considerable patience before returning to this post-apocalyptic world.
The creative changes behind the scenes and narrative shift to focus on Abby’s perspective represent significant evolutions for the series, but with Craig Mazin at the helm and a clear roadmap from the source material, there’s every reason to believe the quality will remain high.
As we await more concrete details, one thing is certain: the journey through this ruined America continues to be one of television’s most compelling adaptations, and Season 3 promises to add even more depth to an already rich narrative tapestry.
Stay tuned for more updates on The Last of Us Season 3 as they become available. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on HBO Max.
Last modified: September 4, 2025
