The Last of Us TV Show Season 2: Cast Guide

The highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us premieres on April 13, 2025, introducing pivotal new characters while reuniting audiences with beloved returning figures. Like Season 1, the adaptation remains faithful to the narrative and emotional core of The Last of Us Part II, bringing key game characters to life—including Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby—while also expanding the world with original roles such as Catherine O’Hara’s Gail.

This guide details every confirmed cast member for Season 2, organized by role type and narrative significance, to help you prepare for Joel and Ellie’s continued journey through a hauntingly beautiful—and deeply unsettling—post-apocalyptic landscape.

The Last of Us TV Show Season 2: New Cast

Kaitlyn Dever as Abby

HBO officially confirmed that acclaimed actor Kaitlyn Dever—known for Booksmart and Justified—will portray Abby, one of the two central playable characters in The Last of Us Part II. Her arrival marks a major narrative turning point in the series.

Abby is a highly trained Firefly soldier whose rigid moral framework is tested when she embarks on a mission of vengeance. Though her early interactions with Joel and Ellie occur off-screen in the game’s opening, her actions reverberate across the entire story. HBO describes her as a “skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.”

Series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann stated: “Our casting process for Season 2 has been identical to Season 1: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material. Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella, and the rest of our family.”

Who voiced Abby in The Last of Us Part II? Laura Bailey

Young Mazino as Jesse

Beef star Young Mazino joins the ensemble as Jesse—a steadfast pillar of Jackson’s community who consistently places others’ needs above his own, often at profound personal cost.

In The Last of Us Part II, Jesse serves as a patrol leader in Jackson, Wyoming—the settlement where Joel, Ellie, and Tommy reside at the story’s outset. He is Ellie’s trusted friend and Dina’s former partner.

Mazin and Druckmann added: “Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him. We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show.”

Who voiced Jesse in The Last of Us Part II? Stephen Chang

Isabella Merced as Dina

Isabella Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Transformers: The Last Knight) takes on the role of Dina—an intelligent, compassionate, and fiercely loyal member of Jackson and Ellie’s romantic partner. Dina provides critical emotional grounding and moral clarity throughout the story, evolving alongside Ellie in ways that deepen both characters’ arcs.

“Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous, and instantly lovable,” said Mazin and Druckmann. “You can search forever for an actor who effortlessly embodies all of those things—or you can find Isabella Merced right away.”

Who voiced Dina in The Last of Us Part II? Shannon Woodward

Catherine O’Hara as Gail

Gail is an original character created exclusively for the television series. Though details remain intentionally sparse, early indications confirm she serves as Joel’s therapist in Season 2—guiding him through the psychological aftermath of his morally fraught decision at the end of Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright as Isaac

Jeffrey Wright (Westworld, The Batman) reprises his role as Isaac—the formidable, ideologically driven leader of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF). In the game, Isaac catalyzes the central conflict; his presence in Season 2 signals that the WLF’s influence will be both immediate and consequential.

Who voiced Isaac in The Last of Us Part II? Jeffrey Wright

Danny Ramirez as Manny

Danny Ramirez (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Top Gun: Maverick) portrays Manny Alvarez—a skilled WLF soldier and former Firefly. A close confidant of Abby, he is described by HBO as “a loyal soldier whose sunny outlook belies the pain of old wounds and a fear that he will fail his friends when they need him most.”

Who voiced Manny in The Last of Us Part II? Alejandro Edda

Ariela Barer as Mel

Ariela Barer (Runaways) plays Mel—a dedicated WLF medic and former Firefly. She shares deep bonds with both Abby and Owen, with whom she is romantically involved. HBO characterizes her as “a young doctor whose commitment to saving lives is challenged by the realities of war and tribalism.”

Who voiced Mel in The Last of Us Part II? Ashly Burch

Tati Gabrielle as Nora

Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Uncharted) assumes the role of Nora—a WLF medic and member of Abby’s “Salt Lake Crew.” She previously worked alongside Dr. Jerry Anderson and carries significant emotional weight tied to past choices. HBO describes her as “a military medic struggling to come to terms with the sins of her past.”

Who voiced Nora in The Last of Us Part II? Chelsea Tavares

Spencer Lord as Owen

Spencer Lord (Family Law, Heartland, The Good Doctor) portrays Owen—a gentle, introspective former Firefly now serving in the WLF. He is currently in a relationship with Mel and was once romantically linked to Abby. HBO defines him as “a gentle soul trapped in a warrior’s body, condemned to fight an enemy he refuses to hate.”

Who voiced Owen in The Last of Us Part II? Patrick Fugit

Joe Pantoliano as Eugene, Robert John Burke as Seth, and Noah Lamanna as Kat

HBO announced three additional actors portraying established game characters: Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix) as Eugene—a laid-back, cannabis-using friend of Dina’s who appears briefly in the game but gains expanded narrative relevance in the series; Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3) as Seth—the prejudiced bar owner in Jackson who infamously offers “bigot sandwiches”; and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) as Kat, Ellie’s ex-partner prior to the events of Part II.

Co-creator Neil Druckmann remarked: “I get excited when I see these opportunities—I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t know Eugene that well!’ The story we told [in the game] was somewhat superficial. The way this character comes in really gets to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship.”

Image Credits: Joe Pantoliano (Theo Wargo/Getty Images), Robert John Burke (Jim Spellman/FilmMagic), Noah Lamanna (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO)

Alanna Ubach as Hanrahan, Ben Ahlers as Burton, and Hettienne Park as Elise Park

Alanna Ubach (Euphoria, Bombshell), Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Hettienne Park (Don’t Look Up) join the cast as wholly original characters: Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively. Their specific roles and narrative functions remain unconfirmed but are expected to deepen the thematic and interpersonal layers of Season 2.

Image Credits: Alanna Ubach (Monica Schipper/Getty Images), Ben Ahlers (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO), Hettienne Park (Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images)

The Last of Us TV Show Season 2: Returning Cast

Pedro Pascal as Joel

Pedro Pascal returns as Joel, whose traumatic choices at the end of Season 1 continue to define his arc. After violently intercepting Ellie’s planned sacrifice at the Fireflies’ hospital, Joel lied to her—claiming the Fireflies had abandoned research into a cordyceps cure and no longer required her. His deception, delivered with quiet conviction and met only with Ellie’s uneasy “Okay,” sets the emotional stakes for Season 2.

Who voiced Joel in The Last of Us Part II? Troy Baker

Bella Ramsey as Ellie

Bella Ramsey reprises her role as Ellie, whose awakening from anesthesia revealed not a cure—but Joel’s bloodstained rescue. Unaware of what transpired during her unconsciousness, Ellie accepted Joel’s fabricated truth without question. Season 2 will rigorously explore the psychological and relational consequences of that lie, testing the foundation of their bond.

Who voiced Ellie in The Last of Us Part II? Ashley Johnson

Gabriel Luna as Tommy

Gabriel Luna returns as Tommy—Joel’s younger brother and a foundational figure in Jackson’s leadership. Though Joel initially entrusted Tommy with escorting Ellie to the Fireflies, he ultimately reversed course and departed with her, leaving Tommy behind—though not before Tommy affirmed, “You always have a home here.”

Who voiced Tommy in The Last of Us Part II? Jeffrey Pierce

Rutina Wesley as Maria

Rutina Wesley resumes her role as Maria—Tommy’s wife and a respected leader within Jackson’s community. Her quiet wisdom and protective instincts were evident when she cut Ellie’s hair and cautioned her about trust. Her expanded presence in Season 2 promises deeper insight into Jackson’s governance and values.

Will Marlene or Tess Appear in Season 2 of The Last of Us?

Merle Dandridge as Marlene

Marlene was killed by Joel in the Season 1 finale and therefore will not appear in the present-day timeline of Season 2. However, given her extensive flashback appearances in The Last of Us Part II, it remains plausible—and narratively resonant—that she may return in memory sequences exploring Joel and Ellie’s shared history.

Anna Torv as Tess

Tess died early in Season 1 after being bitten, sacrificing herself to ensure Joel and Ellie’s escape. While she does not appear in The Last of Us Part II, flashbacks to her relationship with Joel—particularly their life in Boston—could resurface to enrich the emotional texture of Season 2’s exploration of loss, loyalty, and consequence.

Will Nick Offerman’s Bill and Murray Bartlett’s Frank Return in The Last of Us?

No—Craig Mazin has confirmed that Bill and Frank will not return in Season 2. Though their standalone episode earned widespread acclaim—including a rare 10/10 review from IGN—the creative team considers their story complete. When asked about rumors of a prequel, Mazin clarified: “I’m very proud of the episode we did with Bill and Frank. There won’t be more Bill and Frank. Nick was joking about a prequel—that was kind of a joke. We are very happy with what we achieved.”

Note: This guide was updated on April 8, 2025, to include Catherine O’Hara (Gail) and Jeffrey Wright (Isaac).

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.