HBO has cast Michelle Mao from Bridgerton and 15-year-old Kyriana Kratter from Star Wars: Skeleton Crew as Yara and Lev, respectively, for The Last of Us season 3. The Seraphite siblings are central to Abby Anderson's arc, with Lev serving as her partner and moral compass, marking a significant creative shift as the series moves away from Ellie's story.
HBO held an inclusive casting call for Lev, with young actors of different backgrounds auditioning for the role, which Kratter ultimately secured. However, the casting has already generated discussion among fans. In the video games, Lev is a transgender boy, a key detail that factors heavily into his character and motivations; Kratter is cisgender.
Some fans on social media have raised questions about the casting decision, pointing to earlier HBO casting efforts that prioritised finding performers who matched specific character details from the source material. The debate reflects broader questions about how closely television adaptations should cleave to their game origins when bringing characters to screen.
Season 3 is believed to focus on Abby Anderson's story from The Last of Us Part II, fundamentally restructuring the show's narrative perspective. Returning cast includes Kaitlyn Dever, Bella Ramsey, Isabella Merced, Gabriel Luna, and Jeffrey Wright, with new additions including Clea DuVall, Patrick Wilson as Abby's father Jerry, Jason Ritter as WLF soldier Hanley, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. taking over the role of Manny.
The casting announcement arrives amid significant changes to the show's creative leadership. Craig Mazin will serve as sole showrunner for season 3, following Neil Druckmann's step back from the series. Druckmann will not write or direct season 3 episodes but continues as co-creator and executive producer. Druckmann cited his focus on Naughty Dog's next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, as the reason for his departure.
It is currently suspected that season 3 will be the show's last. The production timeline remains fluid, though the reshuffling of creative personnel and the massive scope of adapting The Last of Us Part II suggest the adaptation faces genuine complexity in bringing Abby's polarising storyline to television audiences.