[Editor’s note: The following story contains spoilers for “The Last of Us” Season 2.]
It’s Abby’s flip now: Kaitlyn Dever is confirmed to be the lead star of “The Final of Us” Season 3, as co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann stated throughout an Emmys FYC occasion, reported by THR.
Whereas that is no shock to followers of the video video games, the collection adaptation is now following go well with. Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal beforehand had been co-leads of the primary season; Ramsey stepped right into a solo main function after Pascal’s character Joel met his demise by the fingers (properly, toes) of Dever’s Abby.
“I feel it was good to go on that journey to finish up at HBO, find yourself at a spot that leaned into these controversial choices, I suppose,” Druckmann stated of adapting his online game franchise. “However the choices are simply what the story required, and even now, it’s like I can’t consider that they allow us to construction the collection on this method. That means like we simply ended Season 2, and Season 3 goes to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn.”
Druckmann added that he was skeptical that HBO would greenlit the POV swap for Season 3. Narratively, the “Final of Us” online game shifts to Abby’s perspective after the Season 2 collection occasions happen.
“I used to be positive that they wouldn’t allow us to do that once we began adapting this, however they’ve leaned into what makes, I consider, the story particular,” Druckmann stated. “And allowed us not solely the time however the artistic freedom to have the ability to take these swings, and I feel the viewers actually appreciates that.”
Dever shared her personal pleasure about increasing Abby’s story onscreen. “[It] makes me so blissful to be part of this household and to get to look ahead to the journey we have now forward too,” Dever stated, including that “the controversy surrounding Abby was by no means actually a priority for me, simply given my first assembly with Craig and Neil and the way fantastic they’re and the way proficient they’re. Getting on set, I’ve by no means felt so carried on a set in my life.”
“The Final of Us” was renewed for Season 3 in April 2025. Mazin beforehand confirmed that Season 3 might be “considerably bigger” in scope. The co-showrunners are planning for at the very least 4 seasons, as Mazin advised Deadline in 2024.