🍄 Season 3 Cast Overview
HBO has expanded The Last of Us Season 3 with John Goodman, Laura Bailey, and Ian Alexander.
The casting is particularly notable because Bailey and Alexander previously portrayed major characters in The Last of Us Part II video game. For the HBO series, however, both actors are taking on completely different roles.
| Actor | Season 3 Role | Character Details |
|---|---|---|
| John Goodman | Joey | One half of the Heroes of the Highway |
| Laura Bailey | Elizabeth | A leader within the Seraphites |
| Ian Alexander | Paco | Joey's partner in the Heroes of the Highway |
⭐ John Goodman as Joey
John Goodman joins Season 3 as Joey, a character created for HBO's adaptation.
Joey is part of a pair known as the Heroes of the Highway, alongside Ian Alexander's Paco.
The casting adds another established actor to the series as the story continues expanding beyond the characters introduced during its earlier seasons.
Goodman's role is also separate from any character he portrayed in the original The Last of Us games.
🎮 Laura Bailey as Elizabeth
Laura Bailey will portray Elizabeth, a leader of the Seraphites.
Her casting is one of the most interesting additions because Bailey originally provided the voice and performance for Abby in The Last of Us Part II.
HBO's adaptation has Kaitlyn Dever portraying Abby, meaning Bailey is returning to the franchise in an entirely different role.
Bailey also previously appeared briefly in HBO's The Last of Us Season 1 as one of the nurses during the hospital sequence.
👤 Ian Alexander as Paco
Ian Alexander will play Paco, Joey's partner in the Heroes of the Highway.
Like Bailey, Alexander already has a strong connection to The Last of Us games.
Alexander portrayed Lev in The Last of Us Part II, but will not reprise that role in the HBO series.
Instead, Season 3 gives Alexander a new character created for the television adaptation.
🩸 The Seraphites
Elizabeth's position as a Seraphite leader connects the new casting to one of the major factions from The Last of Us Part II.
The Seraphites, sometimes referred to as the Scars, are a religious group that became a major force in the Seattle storyline.
Their conflict with the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) forms an important part of the world surrounding Abby's story.
Elizabeth's role could therefore give the HBO series more opportunity to explore the Seraphites and their internal leadership.
🗺️ The Heroes of the Highway
Joey and Paco are introduced as a pair known as the Heroes of the Highway.
Their inclusion gives Season 3 additional characters outside the central Ellie and Abby storyline.
John Goodman and Ian Alexander will portray the duo, creating another new element specifically developed for HBO's version of the story.
🎭 Game Performers Returning in New Roles
The casting of Bailey and Alexander creates an unusual connection between the games and television series.
Laura Bailey
- Played Abby in The Last of Us Part II
- Appeared briefly in HBO Season 1
- Plays Elizabeth in Season 3
Ian Alexander
- Played Lev in The Last of Us Part II
- Plays Paco in Season 3
Neither actor is returning to reprise their original game character.
📺 The Last of Us Season 3
Season 3 continues HBO's adaptation of the story introduced in The Last of Us Part II.
The season is expected to expand the perspective surrounding Abby and the wider factions operating in the post-apocalyptic world.
The confirmed additions of Goodman, Bailey and Alexander also show HBO continuing to expand the television adaptation with characters that aren't simply one-to-one recreations of the game's cast.
An exact Season 3 premiere date has not been announced, with HBO targeting 2027.
❓ Quick FAQ
Who is John Goodman playing in The Last of Us Season 3?
John Goodman plays Joey, one half of the Heroes of the Highway.
Who is Laura Bailey playing?
Laura Bailey plays Elizabeth, a leader within the Seraphites.
Who is Ian Alexander playing?
Ian Alexander plays Paco, Joey's partner and the other half of the Heroes of the Highway.
Did Laura Bailey play Abby?
Yes. Bailey provided the voice and performance for Abby in The Last of Us Part II. In HBO's series, Abby is played by Kaitlyn Dever.
Did Ian Alexander play Lev?
Yes. Alexander portrayed Lev in The Last of Us Part II. For Season 3 of the HBO series, Alexander plays Paco instead.
Are Bailey and Alexander reprising their game characters?
No. Both actors are returning to the franchise in new roles.
When is The Last of Us Season 3 coming?
HBO is targeting 2027, although an exact release date has not been announced.
🎯 Summary
The Last of Us Season 3 brings three notable additions to HBO's cast: John Goodman as Joey, Laura Bailey as Elizabeth, and Ian Alexander as Paco.
The casting is particularly notable for Bailey and Alexander. Both actors originated major characters in The Last of Us Part II, yet HBO is bringing them back to the franchise as entirely different characters.
With Elizabeth connected to the Seraphites and Joey and Paco forming the Heroes of the Highway, the new additions expand the world around the upcoming season while adding another unusual connection between the original games and HBO's adaptation.