The Last of Us Season 3 Shocker: Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby Takes Center Stage!

The Last of Us Season 3 Shocker: Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby Takes Center Stage!
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Big news for fans of HBO’s The Last of Us—the show’s third season is officially a go, and it’s taking a bold new direction! At a For Your Consideration (FYC) event in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025, series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann dropped a bombshell: Kaitlyn Dever, who plays the polarizing character Abby, will be the lead in Season 3. This shift in focus has sparked excitement, curiosity, and a bit of unease among fans as the show continues to adapt the gritty world of the Naughty Dog video game.

Season 2, which wrapped up on May 25, 2025, ended on a cliffhanger that left everyone reeling. After Abby killed Joel (Pedro Pascal) early in the season—a move that mirrored the game’s controversial plot and stirred up plenty of debate—the finale shifted perspective from Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to Abby. The last episode showed Abby arriving at the theater where Ellie and her crew were hiding, ambushing Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and killing Jesse (Young Mazino). A title card reading “Seattle Day One” hinted at what’s next, and now we know: Season 3 will dive deep into Abby’s story, exploring her time in Seattle over three pivotal days, just like in The Last of Us Part II.

Druckmann didn’t hold back at the FYC panel, saying, “We just ended Season 2, and Season 3 is going to be starring—spoiler alert—Kaitlyn.” Dever, who joined the panel virtually from Australia, opened up about the challenges of playing Abby, a character who’s been divisive since her game debut in 2020. In the story, Abby’s a former Firefly seeking revenge for her father’s death at Joel’s hands, and her brutal killing of Joel in Season 2’s second episode left fans heartbroken and divided. Dever shared that she never let the controversy faze her, thanks to the support of Mazin and Druckmann. “I’ve never felt so carried on a set in my life,” she said, reflecting on the emotional scene where Abby confronts Ellie in a chalet.

The creators also teased what’s coming thematically. Druckmann described Season 3 as “more of a water season than a fire season,” with Mazin adding, “It’s a wetter season than a hotter season.” While that’s cryptic, it suggests a shift in tone—maybe a focus on emotional depth over raw intensity, which could tie into Abby’s complex journey of grief and redemption. Mazin also addressed the show’s risky choices, like Joel’s early death, saying, “I think plot armor is a real problem. In a show where we try and keep things grounded, sometimes the people we can’t imagine losing do die.” It’s a reminder that The Last of Us isn’t afraid to take big swings, even if it means upsetting fans.

This pivot to Abby has me both excited and a little worried. On one hand, Kaitlyn Dever has been phenomenal as Abby, bringing a raw intensity to the role that makes her more than just a “villain.” Her performance in Season 2, especially in the flashback scenes with her father, added layers to a character who could’ve easily been one-note. Plus, the game’s structure—switching to Abby’s perspective halfway through—gave players a deeper understanding of her motives, and I’m curious to see how the show handles that shift. Dever’s already shown she can carry heavy emotional scenes, and I’m looking forward to seeing her explore Abby’s relationships with characters like Owen, her friend and love interest, as hinted by Mazin in earlier interviews.

On the other hand, this move might alienate some fans. Ellie has been the heart of the show for many, and sidelining her after Season 2’s messy finale—branded “lackluster” by some—feels like a gamble. The season drew 3.7 million viewers for its finale, down from 5.3 million for the premiere, showing a dip in engagement. Abby’s already a lightning rod; her killing of Joel in the game led to intense backlash, with voice actress Laura Bailey even receiving death threats. While Dever’s casting has been better received, the focus on Abby could deepen the divide among viewers, especially if Ellie’s story takes a backseat for too long.

I also can’t help but wonder about the bigger picture. Mazin has hinted that a fourth season might be needed to wrap up the story from the two games, saying it’d be tough to finish everything in just Season 3. That makes sense—there’s a lot of ground to cover with Abby’s arc, Ellie and Dina’s relationship (especially with Dina’s pregnancy), and lingering threads like Joel’s lingering influence. But HBO’s been generous with creative freedom so far, so I’m hopeful they’ll let the creators take their time to get it right.

Season 3 is slated to premiere in 2027, with filming expected to start in 2026. It’s also set to be bigger than the previous seasons, with more episodes and new elements like the Rat King, Shamblers, and characters like Lev, Yara, and Isaac. For now, The Last of Us is keeping us on edge, just like it always has. Whether you’re Team Abby or Team Ellie, one thing’s for sure—this next chapter is going to be a game-changer. I can’t wait to see where it takes us!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter