26-05-2025
What we know about The Last Of Us series 3
The Last of Us reaches its tense series two finale tonight, but the good news for fans is that series three is on the it's still a way off yet.
Sky will air the finale of the video game adaptation's hit second series on Monday, 26 May, bringing to a close the latest developments in the zombie apocalypse storyline that saw Pedro Pascal's leading man Joel Miller devastatingly killed off in episode two.
But what does series three hold, and when are we likely to see it make a return to screens?
The video game adaptation isn't exactly known for rolling out series in quick succession, although it did offer fans the great news that series three was confirmed before series two even aired.
Isabela Merced, who plays Dina in series two, has told Variety that she isn't sure of filming schedules but thinks the new episodes will probably shoot in 2026.
Given that the first two series didn't make it to screen until around eight months after filming wrapped, we could be looking at a lengthy wait until 2027 to find out what happens next.
Fans of the video game have long speculated that series three will see a switch in main character from Bella Ramsey's star turn as Ellie to Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever.
It would be a controversial move as soldier Abby was responsible for Joel's death whilst avenging her own father, but would be in keeping with the game which sees a change in character perspective for part two.
Catherine O'Hara, who starred as therapist Gail in series two, seemed to confirm this when she was asked by Variety whether she would be back for series three: "I don't know," said the Schitt's Creek star. "Craig [Mazin] did say definitely not this next season. It's the Abby story. Maybe. But I think it was to serve Joel and Ellie."
However, Ellie fans might not be looking at a whole series without her, as she is still out for justice against Abby over Joel's death. Their bitter rivalry may well be the storyline that series three hinges on.
Creator Craig Mazin hinted to Collider that series three may be longer than seven episodes: "The thing about Joel's death is that it's so impactful. It's such a narrative nuclear bomb that it's hard to wander away from it. We can't really take a break and move off to the side and do a Bill and Frank story. I'm not sure that will necessarily be true for season three. I think we'll have a little more room there."
It certainly looks that way. In Mazin's interview with Collider, he spoke as though series four was all but a certainty as he explained the difficulties in wrapping up every story arc.
Talking about how they tried to think long-term about each character's scenes, he said: "We thought ahead to season three and season four, to try to get as much visibility as we can."
He added that it "certainly" wouldn't be possible to finish the whole story in series three, delighting fans with the news: "Hopefully, we'll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That's the most likely outcome."
The Last of Us series 2 finale airs on Sky Atlantic at 9pm on Monday, 26 May.
