HBO's highly anticipated "The Last of Us" Season 3 has made two pivotal casting announcements, with Michelle Mao set to portray Yara and Kyriana Kratter cast as Lev. Both actors will join the post-apocalyptic drama as series regulars, a development that fans of "The Last of Us Part II" will recognize as crucial, given Yara and Lev's significant roles in Abby Anderson’s storyline, which is expected to be a major focus of the upcoming season.

The third season will see the return of familiar faces including Kaitlyn Dever, Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, Gabriel Luna, and Jeffrey Wright. New additions to the cast also feature Clea DuVall, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. stepping into the role of Manny, and Jason Ritter and Patrick Wilson in recurring capacities. There is also an expectation for Pedro Pascal to make cameo appearances in flashback scenes, following his early departure in Season 2.

Lev, a central figure in "The Last of Us Part II," is a young member of the Seraphites, a religious cult. His character is introduced as pivotal to Abby's narrative, exploring profound themes such as identity, belief, and family. Lev is a transgender boy who faces rejection from his community due to his gender identity. His journey and evolving relationship with Abby form the core of the game's exploration of human connections in a brutal, post-apocalyptic world. Portrayed as brave, resilient, and fiercely loyal, Lev's story, alongside his sister Yara, adds unique depth and perspective, making his casting particularly critical for HBO to execute accurately.

Michelle Mao brings experience from a significant role as Rosamund in Season 4 of "Bridgerton" and also starred in the feature film “Zi.” Kyriana Kratter recently appeared in Disney+'s "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" and had a recurring role on "Bunk’d."

Further expanding the cast, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord have all been promoted to series regular status for the third season. The series, renewed in 2025 ahead of its second season premiere, is based on the acclaimed video game franchise and depicts a world ravaged by a fungal infection that transforms much of the population into zombie-like creatures.

In terms of production, "The Last of Us" was co-created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. However, it has been revealed that Druckmann will be exiting the show before Season 3, leaving Mazin as the sole showrunner, in addition to his roles as writer and executive producer. The series is a co-production between HBO and Sony Pictures Television, with executive production by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells. Production companies involved include PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.

The highly anticipated third season of "The Last of Us" is scheduled to premiere on HBO in 2027.