The Last of Us Season 2: New and Returning Cast Revealed

The highly anticipated second season of *The Last of Us* is slated to premiere on April 13, 2025, promising a blend of familiar faces and intriguing new characters. Season 2 will continue to adapt major characters from the beloved video game series, including Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, while also introducing fresh additions like Catherine O'Hara's mysterious Gail. To ensure you're fully prepared for Joel and Ellie's ongoing journey through the gripping post-apocalyptic landscape, we've compiled this comprehensive guide to the cast of Season 2.

The Last of Us Season 2 Cast: Who's New and Who's Returning to the HBO Series?

19 ImagesNew Cast Members for The Last of Us TV Show Season 2

Kaitlyn Dever as Abby

One of the most eagerly awaited casting announcements for Season 2 was who would portray Abby. HBO confirmed that Kaitlyn Dever, known for her roles in Booksmart and Justified, would take on this pivotal role. Abby, a key character in The Last of Us Part 2, is a Firefly soldier whose black-and-white worldview is challenged as she seeks vengeance. Series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann expressed their excitement, stating, "Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material. Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella, and the rest of our family."

Who Voiced Abby in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Laura Bailey

Young Mazino as Jesse

Young Mazino, acclaimed for his role in Beef, will portray Jesse, a pillar of the Jackson community known for putting others' needs before his own. Jesse, introduced in The Last of Us Part 2, is a leader of the patrol groups in Jackson, Wyoming, and a close friend of Ellie. Mazin and Druckmann praised Mazino, saying, "Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him. We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show."

Who Voiced Jesse in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Stephen Chang

Isabella Merced as Dina

Isabella Merced, known from Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Transformers: The Last Knight, steps into the role of Dina, Ellie's partner in Jackson. Dina's relationship with Ellie is central to the story, evolving throughout the game. Mazin and Druckmann commented on Merced's casting, saying, "Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous, and instantly lovable. You can search forever for an actor who effortlessly embodies all of those things, or you can find Isabela Merced right away."

Who Voiced Dina in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Shannon Woodward

Catherine O'Hara as Gail

Catherine O'Hara joins the series as Gail, a character created specifically for the show. Though details about Gail are scarce, she appears to be Joel's therapist, helping him navigate the aftermath of his choices in Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright as Isaac

Fans of The Last of Us Part 2 will be thrilled to see Jeffrey Wright reprise his role as Isaac, the leader of the Washington Liberation Front. His character plays a significant role in the game, and his presence is expected to be just as impactful in Season 2.

Who Voiced Isaac in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Jeffrey Wright

Danny Ramirez as Manny

Danny Ramirez, known for his roles in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Top Gun: Maverick, will play Manny Alvarez, a skilled soldier and former Firefly who is a close friend of Abby. HBO describes Manny as "a loyal soldier whose sunny outlook belies the pain of old wounds and a fear that he will fail his friends when they need him most."

Who Voiced Manny in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Alejandro Edda

Ariela Barer as Mel

Ariela Barer, from Runaways, takes on the role of Mel, a medic in the Washington Liberation Front and a former Firefly. Mel is a friend of Abby and in a relationship with Owen. HBO describes her as "a young doctor whose commitment to saving lives is challenged by the realities of war and tribalism."

Who Voiced Mel in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Ashly Burch

Tati Gabrielle as Nora

Tati Gabrielle, known for her roles in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Uncharted, will portray Nora, a member of Abby's 'Salt Lake Crew' and a former medic who worked with Dr. Jerry Anderson. HBO describes Nora as "a military medic struggling to come to terms with the sins of her past."

Who Voiced Nora in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Chelsea Tavares

Spencer Lord as Owen

Spencer Lord, who has appeared in Family Law, Heartland, and The Good Doctor, will play Owen, a member of the 'Salt Lake Crew' and a former Firefly now serving as a soldier in the WLF. Owen is currently dating Mel but was previously in a relationship with Abby. HBO describes him as "a gentle soul trapped in a warrior’s body, condemned to fight an enemy he refuses to hate."

Who Voiced Owen in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Patrick Fugit

Joe Pantoliano as Eugene, Robert John Burke as Seth, and Noah Lamanna as Kat

HBO has also announced the addition of Joe Pantoliano, Robert John Burke, and Noah Lamanna to the cast, playing Eugene, Seth, and Kat, respectively. These characters, who were briefly introduced in The Last of Us Part 2, will have expanded roles in the series. Eugene, portrayed by Pantoliano, was Dina's pot-smoking friend in the game. Neil Druckmann expressed excitement about fleshing out Eugene's character, saying, "I get excited when I see these opportunities. I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Eugene that well!’ The story we told [in the game] was somewhat superficial. The way this character comes in really gets to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship." Burke will portray Seth, the bar owner and bigot sandwich-giver, and Lamanna will play Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend.

Image Credits: John Pantoliano (Theo Wargo/Getty Images), Robert John Burke (Jim Spellman/FilmMagic), and Noah Lemanna (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO)

Alanna Ubach as Hanrahan, Ben Ahlers as Burton, and Hettienne Park as Elise Park

Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park join the cast as the newly created characters Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively. These fresh faces will bring new dimensions to the series.

Image Credits: Alanna Ubach (Monica Schipper/Getty Images), Ben Ahlers (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO), Hettienne Park (Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images)

Returning Cast for The Last of Us TV Show Season 2

Pedro Pascal as Joel

Pedro Pascal will reprise his role as Joel, whose actions at the end of Season 1—rescuing Ellie from the Fireflies at the cost of many lives—will continue to ripple through the narrative. Joel's decision to lie to Ellie about the Fireflies' failure to develop a cure and his subsequent bloodshed will be pivotal to their relationship moving forward.

Who Voiced Joel in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Troy Baker

Bella Ramsey as Ellie

Bella Ramsey returns as Ellie, whose journey with Joel takes a dramatic turn after learning about the events at the hospital. The tension between Joel's lie and Ellie's trust will be a focal point of Season 2.

Who Voiced Bella in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Ashley Johnson

Gabriel Luna as Tommy

Gabriel Luna will return as Tommy, Joel's brother, who played a significant role in the game. Last seen in Jackson with his wife Maria, Tommy's relationship with Joel and his involvement in the broader story will be explored further.

Who Voiced Tommy in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Jeffrey Pierce

Rutina Wesley as Maria

Rutina Wesley reprises her role as Maria, the leader of the Jackson community and Tommy's wife. Her advice to Ellie about trust and her leadership will continue to be crucial to the series.

Will Marlene or Tess Appear in Season 2 of The Last of Us?

Merle Dandridge as Marlene

Merle Dandridge's Marlene was killed by Joel in the Season 1 finale, ruling out her appearance in the present timeline of Season 2. However, given her presence in flashbacks in The Last of Us Part 2, she may appear in similar sequences in the upcoming season.

Anna Torv as Tess

Anna Torv's Tess, a smuggler and friend of Joel, met a tragic end in Season 1 when she sacrificed herself after being bitten. While Tess did not appear in The Last of Us Part 2, flashbacks to her life with Joel could provide additional depth to their story.

Will Nick Offerman’s Bill and Murray Bartlett’s Frank Return in The Last of Us?

Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that we'll see more of Nick Offerman's Bill and Murray Bartlett's Frank in Season 2. Their poignant episode in Season 1, which received a perfect 10/10 from IGN, left a lasting impact. While there were rumors of a potential prequel series, co-creator Craig Mazin clarified that Offerman was joking about such a project, saying, "I’m very proud of the episode we did with Bill and Frank. There won’t be more Bill and Frank. Nick was joking about a prequel, that was kind of a joke. We are very happy with what we achieved."