Set 20 years after civilisation collapses under a deadly fungal outbreak, The Last of Us took over screens, becoming HBO’s most-watched debut season and locking viewers into its brutal, survival-driven world. The series barely paused before pushing ahead, returning with Season 2 on April 13, 2025, where the stakes only grew darker and more fractured. And now, with Season 3 already greenlit, the buzz is building around a mix of returning stars and high-profile newcomers, including the recent surprise casting of Li Jun Li.

Known most recently for her breakout role in Sinners, Li Jun Li has joined Season 3 of The Last of Us, as confirmed by Deadline. She will play Miriam, a Seraphite and the mother of Lev and Yara, a character who, in the Part II game, remained largely in the background after disowning Lev. But in Season 3, that role shifts sharply, placing her at the centre of the Seraphite storyline as a more direct antagonist, embodying the human cost of blind faith.

As previously announced, Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter will play Yara and Lev, further expanding the Seraphite arc. The season also brings key shifts, with Danny Ramirez being replaced by Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Manny due to scheduling conflicts.

The cast list further expands with Kaitlyn Dever, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, and Jeffrey Wright, alongside Tati Gabrielle and Ariela Barer stepping up as series regulars, with Spencer Lord also joining the expanding lineup. And as this next chapter widens its scope, the adaptation is set to roll into a 2027 slate, pushing the story into an even larger phase.

And while the cast continues to take shape behind the curtain, it is what lies ahead that feels far more uncertain and dangerous about Season 3.

What lies ahead in The Last of Us season 3?

Season 3 of The Last of Us has already entered production, setting up a 2027 return that shifts the story at its core. This time, the narrative moves through Abby’s lens, replaying the same three days in Seattle but from the other side, where the war between the WLF and the Seraphites takes centre stage. As the scale widens, the story moves away from simple right and wrong, pushing Abby into a space where empathy and conflict collide, hinting at a chapter far bigger than what came before.

The numbers behind the series only underline that rise, with Season 1 averaging 32 million viewers per episode and peaking at 8.2 million on finale night, before Season 2 opened stronger at 5.3 million. Even with a dip to 3.7 million for its finale, the season still held a higher overall average at 37 million per episode, proving that the story’s grip has only tightened as it moves into its next phase.

While the story sets its course for 2027, Li Jun Li joining the cast has already sparked fresh intrigue, hinting at something intense building behind the doors of The Last of Us Season 3.

Are you excited to see Sinners star Li Jun Li joining The Last of Us Season 3? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Lisa Roy

Edited by

Itti Mahajan