HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us is expanding its cast for the upcoming third season. The show has found its actors for two important characters from the video game: Yara and Lev. Michelle Mao, who appears in Bridgerton Season 4, and Kyriana Kratter, known for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, will join the series as series regulars.
The casting news arrives as production gears up for the next chapter of the story, which will shift focus to the character of Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. With the second season ending on a major cliffhanger, fans are eager to see how the adaptation continues.
Kyriana Kratter and Michelle Mao Join as Lev and Yara
According to reports from Deadline and Variety, the two young actors will play siblings who are members of the Seraphites, a cult-like faction often called “Scars” by their enemies. In the video game The Last of Us Part II, Yara and Lev play a major role in Abby’s journey after she saves them from danger.
Kyriana Kratter, who is 15 years old, will play Lev. Lev is a transgender boy who runs away from the Seraphites because of their strict beliefs. In the game, he becomes a loyal companion to Abby. Kratter recently appeared as KB in the Disney+ series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, which starred Jude Law. She also had a role in the Disney Channel series Bunk’d.
Michelle Mao will play Yara, Lev’s older sister. Yara is a dedicated Seraphite who later questions her faith to protect her brother. Mao currently plays Rosamund Li in the fourth season of Netflix’s Bridgerton. She also starred in the film Zi, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The studio reportedly held a wide casting search for the role of Lev before choosing Kratter.
Other New Cast Members Joining Season 3
Mao and Kratter are not the only new faces. HBO has already confirmed several other actors for the third season.
- Patrick Wilson will play Jerry Anderson, Abby’s father. Fans will remember Jerry as the Firefly surgeon Joel killed in the Season 1 finale to save Ellie.
- Jason Ritter will play Hanley, a soldier in the Washington Liberation Front (WLF).
- Clea DuVall will play a member of the Seraphite group.
- Jorge Lendeborg Jr. will take over the role of Manny, replacing Danny Ramirez, who left due to scheduling conflicts.
Several actors from previous seasons have also been promoted to series regulars, including Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord.
What to Expect from The Last of Us Season 3 Story
The second season ended with Abby confronting Ellie and her friends in a theater. The finale cut to black before showing what happened, then flashed back to show Abby’s perspective from the beginning of her time in Seattle. Season 3 is expected to follow Abby’s storyline closely, which is where Yara and Lev become key figures.
The show’s creators have explained that they are following the structure of the video game, which tells the story from Ellie’s point of view first, and then switches to Abby’s. Craig Mazin will serve as the sole showrunner for Season 3. Neil Druckmann, who co-created the show and the game, stepped away from his creative role to focus on Naughty Dog’s next video game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. He will stay on as an executive producer.
“I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO,” Druckmann said in a statement. “Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons.”
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When Will Season 3 Release
HBO has not yet set a premiere date for The Last of Us Season 3. However, HBO head Casey Bloys has indicated that the season is planned for a 2027 release. Previous seasons had long production cycles. Season 2 was filmed in 2024 and aired in 2025, so a similar timeline is expected for the third season.
The returning cast includes Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Isabela Merced (Dina), Gabriel Luna (Tommy), and Jeffrey Wright (Isaac). With the new additions to the cast, the series is shaping up to deliver the intense and emotional story that fans of the game recognize.
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