Patrick Wilson from The Conjuring Joins The Last of Us Season 3 as Abby’s Father Jerry

The cast for The Last of Us Season 3 just got a major upgrade. Patrick Wilson, the actor horror movie fans know as Ed Warren from The Conjuring franchise, is joining the HBO series in a role that changes everything for the show’s central conflict. He will play Jerry, the father of Kaitlyn Dever’s character Abby.

The news broke on March 15, 2026, with multiple entertainment outlets confirming the casting. Alongside Wilson, Jason Ritter has also joined the cast as Hanley, a soldier with the Washington Liberation Front. For fans who remember the devastating Season 1 finale, Wilson’s casting brings a face to the name that started it all.

Who is Jerry and Why Does He Matter

Jerry Anderson is not just another survivor in this post-apocalyptic world. In the world of The Last of Us, he was the Firefly surgeon who was ready to operate on Ellie. That surgery would have killed her but potentially created a cure for the cordyceps infection.

In the Season 1 finale, Joel stormed the hospital and killed Jerry to save Ellie. That single moment set the entire story of Season 2 and Season 3 in motion. Jerry’s death became the reason Abby hunted down Joel and killed him in front of Ellie.

With Wilson taking on this role, the show can now explore Jerry’s character through flashbacks. It gives Abby’s quest for revenge a much deeper emotional weight because viewers will actually see the father she lost.

What Patrick Wilson Brings to the Role

Wilson is a familiar face to audiences who enjoy both horror and drama. His work as Ed Warren in The Conjuring movies showed he can play a protective, morally grounded figure. He also starred in Insidious, Fargo Season 2, and Watchmen.

There is also a noticeable resemblance between Wilson and Kaitlyn Dever, which makes the father-daughter casting feel natural. The show has a history of casting actors who look like they could be related, and this choice continues that tradition.

Jason Ritter Returns to The Last of Us

Jason Ritter’s casting comes with an interesting backstory. He actually appeared in The Last of Us Season 1, but viewers could not recognize him. He played a clicker—one of the fungus-infected zombie-like creatures—wearing heavy prosthetics. His wife, Melanie Lynskey, played Kathleen in the first season.

This time, Ritter plays Hanley, a WLF soldier. It gives him a chance to actually show his face and deliver lines.

Other New Additions and Promotions

Season 3 is shaping up to have a packed cast. Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord have all been promoted from recurring roles to series regulars. They play Mel, Nora, and Owen—characters who are closely connected to Abby.

Clea DuVall has joined the cast as a Seraphite, a member of the nomadic cult that clashes with the WLF. Jorge Lendeborg Jr. steps into the role of Manny, taking over from Danny Ramirez who left due to scheduling conflicts.

The Story Shift in Season 3

The third season will focus heavily on Abby’s perspective. Craig Mazin, who co-created the show with Neil Druckmann, is now the sole showrunner. Druckmann stepped away to focus on Naughty Dog and their next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Druckmann had previously shared that he was surprised HBO allowed them to structure the story this way. The second season ended at a major turning point, and the third season will center on Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby. It is a bold move that follows the structure of The Last of Us Part II video game.

When Will Season 3 Arrive

Filming for The Last of Us Season 3 began in Metro Vancouver in early March 2026. Production is expected to continue through November 2026.

The new season is scheduled to premiere sometime in 2027. It will air on HBO and be available for streaming on Max in the United States. For viewers in the UK, it will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Canadian viewers can watch on Crave. Australian audiences can find it on Binge and Foxtel. Indian viewers can stream it on JioCinema.

Reports suggest that the third season might be the final chapter of the series. Originally, showrunners thought they might need four seasons to cover the entire story of Part II, but plans have changed.

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