Season 2 of The Last of Us: New and Returning Cast Members Revealed

The highly anticipated second season of *The Last of Us* is set to premiere on April 13, 2025, introducing fresh faces alongside beloved characters from the first season. As with its predecessor, Season 2 will feature key characters from the games, including Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, and introduce intriguing new characters like Catherine O'Hara's Gail. To prepare you for the continuation of Joel and Ellie's journey in this gripping post-apocalyptic world, we've put together a comprehensive guide to the cast members you should know.

The Last of Us Season 2 Cast: Who's New and Coming Back to the HBO Show?

19 ImagesNew Cast for The Last of Us TV Show Season 2

Kaitlyn Dever as Abby

One of the most anticipated announcements for Season 2 was the casting of Abby, and HBO has revealed that Booksmart and Justified star Kaitlyn Dever will take on the role. Abby, a central character in The Last of Us Part 2, is a skilled soldier and Firefly member whose journey of vengeance will significantly impact the narrative. HBO describes her as someone whose black-and-white worldview is challenged as she seeks justice for those she loved.

"Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material," said series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. "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 2 Game? Laura Bailey

Young Mazino as Jesse

Young Mazino, known for his role in Beef, joins Season 2 as Jesse, a community pillar who prioritizes others' needs, often at great personal cost. Introduced in The Last of Us Part 2, Jesse is a leader of the patrol groups in Jackson, Wyoming, and a friend and former boyfriend of Ellie.

"Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him," Mazin and Druckmann stated. "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 2 Game? Stephen Chang

Isabella Merced as Dina

Isabella Merced, who starred in Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Transformers: The Last Knight, will portray Dina, Ellie's partner and a key figure in Jackson. Dina's relationship with Ellie is central to the story, evolving in multifaceted ways.

"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 Isabela Merced right away."

Who Voiced Dina in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Shannon Woodward

Catherine O'Hara as Gail

Catherine O'Hara's character, Gail, is a new addition created for the series. She appears to be Joel's therapist, helping him deal with the repercussions of his choices from Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright as Isaac

Jeffrey Wright, known for Westworld and The Batman, will reprise his role as Isaac, the leader of the Washington Liberation Front, from The Last of Us Part 2. His actions are pivotal in the game, and he is expected to play a crucial role in Season 2.

Who Voiced Isaac in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Jeffrey Wright

Danny Ramirez as Manny

Danny Ramirez, recognized from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Top Gun: Maverick, will play Manny Alvarez, a member of the Washington Liberation Front and former Firefly. Manny is a close friend of Abby and considered one of the best soldiers by WLF leader Isaac Dixon.

"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," reads the official HBO description of Manny.

Who Voiced Manny in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Alejandro Edda

Ariela Barer as Mel

Ariela Barer, from Runaways, will portray Mel, a medic in the Washington Liberation Front and former Firefly. She is a friend of Abby and romantically involved with Owen.

"A young doctor whose commitment to saving lives is challenged by the realities of war and tribalism," the official HBO description of Mel reads.

Who Voiced Mel in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Ashly Burch

Tati Gabrielle as Nora

Tati Gabrielle, known from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Uncharted, will play Nora, another member of Abby's 'Salt Lake Crew' and a former medic who worked with Dr. Jerry Anderson.

"A military medic struggling to come to terms with the sins of her past," the official HBO description of Nora reads.

Who Voiced Nora in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Chelsea Tavares

Spencer Lord as Owen

Spencer Lord, seen in Family Law, Heartland, and The Good Doctor, will portray Owen, a member of the 'Salt Lake Crew', former Firefly, and current WLF soldier. He is dating Mel but was previously in a relationship with Abby.

"A gentle soul trapped in a warrior’s body, condemned to fight an enemy he refuses to hate," the official HBO description of Owen reads.

Who Voiced Owen in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Patrick Fugit

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

HBO recently announced six more actors joining The Last of Us Season 2, expanding the roles of smaller game characters and introducing new ones. Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix), Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3), and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) will play Eugene, Seth, and Kat, respectively, characters first introduced in the games.

Joe Pantoliano's Eugene, previously a minor character in The Last of Us Part 2, will have a more significant role. "I get excited when I see these opportunities," said showrunner Neil Druckmann. "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."

Robert John Burke will play Seth, the bar owner and bigot sandwich-giver from The Last of Us Part 2, while Noah Lamanna will portray Kat, who dated Ellie before the events of the second game.

Image Credits: John Pantoliano (Theo Wargo/Getty Images), Robert John Burke (Jim Spellman/FilmMagic), and Noah Lemanna (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 new characters Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.

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

Returning Cast for The Last of Us TV Show Season 2

Pedro Pascal as Joel

Pedro Pascal returns as Joel, who, at the end of Season 1, rescued Ellie from the Fireflies, resulting in a massacre. Marlene had explained that the procedure to find a cure would kill Ellie, but Joel disagreed and saved her, lying to her afterward about the Fireflies' failure to develop a cure.

Who Voiced Joel in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Troy Baker

Bella Ramsey as Ellie

Bella Ramsey reprises her role as Ellie, whose last interaction with Joel was marked by his lie about the Fireflies. Unaware of the bloodshed, Ellie was under anesthesia when Joel intervened, and her reaction to his deception will be a focal point in Season 2.

Who Voiced Bella in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Ashley Johnson

Gabriel Luna as Tommy

Gabriel Luna returns as Tommy, Joel's brother, who plays a significant role in The Last of Us Part 2. Last seen in Jackson with his wife Maria, Tommy had initially agreed to take Ellie to the Fireflies but was left behind when Joel changed his mind.

Who Voiced Tommy in The Last of Us Part 2 Game? Jeffrey Pierce

Rutina Wesley as Maria

Rutina Wesley's Maria, a leader in the Jackson community and Tommy's wife, will return. Last seen giving Ellie advice, Maria's role in Season 2 is eagerly anticipated.

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

Merle Dandridge as Marlene

Merle Dandridge's Marlene was killed by Joel in Season 1, so she won't appear in the present timeline of Season 2. However, she could appear in flashbacks, as she did in The Last of Us Part 2.

Anna Torv as Tess

Anna Torv's Tess, a smuggler and Joel's close friend, sacrificed herself after being bitten. Though she didn't appear in The Last of Us Part 2, flashbacks could provide more depth to her and Joel's story.

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

It doesn’t seem likely...

The episode focusing on Nick Offerman's Bill and Murray Bartlett's Frank was a standout in Season 1, earning a rare 10/10 from us. "Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett take on leading role duties with elegance, leaving an unmistakably beautiful mark on the show as we’re shown a side of humanity that makes what Joel and Ellie are fighting for worth saving," wrote IGN's Simon Cardy. "It’s an episode, just like love, that lives long in the memory after experiencing it."

While their story concluded, there was hope for a flashback or even a prequel series, with Offerman mentioning such ideas. However, Mazin has clarified that there won't be more Bill and Frank, and Offerman's prequel comments were in jest. "I’m very proud of the episode we did with Bill and Frank," Mazin said. "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."

For more, explore our analysis of the Season 1 finale, predictions for Season 2, and insights from the creators on Joel's decision to save Ellie.

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