‘The Last Of Us’ Promotes Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, & Spencer Lord To Series Regulars; Jason Ritter & Patrick Wilson Join Season 3 Cast

HBO‘s The Last of Us is gearing up for a major Season 3—and possibly its last— with promotions for Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord, as well as the official additions of Jason Ritter (Matlock) and Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) in recurring roles.

It’s worth noting that Ritter has technically already appeared on the show. He played the uncredited role of a Clicker (the nickname for those infected with the mutated cordyceps fungus) on two episodes of Season 1, starring alongside his wife, Melanie Lynskey.

This time around, Ritter has his own character to bring to life. He will play Hanley, a WLF soldier. Wilson will portray Jerry, Abby’s (Kaitlyn Dever) father. 

Based on Naughty Dog’s video game, The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.

Season 2 picks up five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.

No details regarding Season 3’s plot have been revealed. However, we hear it’s poised to be told from Abby’s perspective. 

The trio, made up of Barer, Gabrielle and Lord, will continue playing their established characters of Mel, Nora and Owen. All three joined the hit series in Season 2 as recurring stars.

The Season 3 cast will also include returning stars Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, Gabriel Luna, and Jeffrey Wright, as well as newly announced additions: Clea DuVall will portray a seraphite, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. is taking on the role of Manny, following Danny Ramirez’s departure.

Co-created by Craig Mazin and the game’s Neil Druckmann, the post-apocalyptic The Last of Us was renewed for a third season before Season 2 debuted last April. Mazin, who served as executive producer/co-showrunner alongside Druckmann in Seasons 1 and 2, is the sole showrunner for Season 3 following Druckmann’s departure.

Ritter is repped by The Burstein Company and Gersh. Wilson is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content, and Gretchen Rush. Barer is repped by OPE Partners, Paradigm, and Felker Toczek Suddleson. Gabrielle is repped by CAA, manager Deidre Graham and Fox Rothschild. Lord is repped by UTA and RED Management. 

Via: Deadline