The latest buzz around HBO's The Last of Us is heating up right now in early 2026, especially with Season 3 (the presumed final season) moving into production and some fresh casting announcements that fans are excited about.
Here's the key news viewers won't want to miss:
- Season 3 is officially in production prep — Filming is ramping up soon (starting around February 2026, with some reports of an earlier January kickoff).
Kaitlyn Dever (Abby) recently teased heading out for prep, and the season is expected to premiere in 2027 (likely spring, based on typical HBO timelines after long production cycles).
No exact date yet, but it's a long wait after Season 2 wrapped in 2025.
- HBO CEO Casey Bloys strongly hinted that Season 3 will be the series finale — In recent interviews, he said "it certainly seems that way" when asked if the show ends there, though final call rests with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (who's stepping back from some duties this season).
This means the adaptation will wrap up the core story from The Last of Us Part II (including Abby's full arc and the Santa Barbara sequences) without stretching into uncharted territory or a potential Part III tie-in. Fans are divided—some love a tight ending, others hoped for more.
- Big casting updates for Season 3:
- Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spider-Man: No Way Home, MCU's Midtown News guy) is taking over the role of Manny (a WLF member) from Danny Ramirez, who had to step away due to scheduling conflicts (he's busy with Marvel projects like Captain America: Brave New World and beyond).
- Clea DuVall (Poker Face, Argo) joins as a Seraphite (one of the cult-like antagonists from the game), adding depth to that faction's story.
- The show is surging on streaming again — Right after these updates (and coinciding with some real-world events boosting rewatches), The Last of Us climbed back to dominate charts on Max/HBO worldwide.
Perfect time to binge Seasons 1 and 2 before the long gap to Season 3.
- Season 3 details teased — It will be longer than Season 2's 7 episodes, focus heavily on Abby's perspective and the revenge cycle's fallout, and continue the high-stakes emotional drama that made the series a hit.
If you're a fan itching for more, the games' Part II (especially Remastered on newer consoles) fills the void nicely while waiting.
Endure and survive—2027 feels far, but these developments keep the hype alive! What part are you most excited (or nervous) about seeing adapted?
