Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in a still from ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2
| Photo Credit: HBO

HBO’s The Last of Us is officially moving forward with a third season, and creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have confirmed that Kaitlyn Dever will lead the next chapter of the acclaimed adaptation.

Speaking at a For Your Consideration (FYC) event in Los Angeles celebrating Season 2, the showrunners revealed key insights into the creative direction of the upcoming season. Dever, who plays Abby, a controversial figure in the video game series, will step into a central role. Her involvement had been widely speculated following the events of Season 2, where her character makes a dramatic entrance by killing Pedro Pascal’s fan-favourite Joel.

“It’s more of a water season than a fire season,” Druckmann said during the panel, hinting at a tonal and visual shift from earlier episodes. Mazin added that “it’s a wetter season than a hotter season,” suggesting the next installment will explore different landscapes and challenges.

Dever, currently filming in Australia, appeared virtually during the panel discussion. Reflecting on the backlash Abby’s character has received in the games, she said, “The controversy surrounding Abby was never really a concern for me. I’ve never felt so carried on a set in my life.” She added that working with Druckmann and Mazin made her confident in taking on the role.

The creators also addressed the risky narrative choices made so far, including Joel’s early death in Season 2. “I think plot armor is a real problem,” said Mazin. “In a show where we try and keep things grounded, sometimes the people we can’t imagine losing do die. Because this is not a show about revenge, but about about grief.”

Season 3 does not yet have a confirmed release date, but production is expected to continue into next year. The show, adapted from the acclaimed PlayStation games, remains one of HBO’s highest-profile series.