HBO's acclaimed post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us will see a significant cast change for its upcoming third season, with actor Danny Ramirez departing the series.
Key Cast Member Exits Due to Scheduling Conflicts
Ramirez, who portrayed the character Manny in the show's second season, will not return for the next instalment. Variety reported that his exit is due to scheduling conflicts with other projects.
In Season 2, Manny was a key ally to Kaitlyn Dever's character, Abby, assisting in her quest for revenge against Pedro Pascal's Joel. His absence will necessitate a recasting for the role as the narrative progresses.
Ramirez's Rising Star in the Marvel Universe
The actor is perhaps best known to global audiences for his role as Joaquin Torres, who becomes Falcon, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared in the 2021 Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and reprised the role in this year's Captain America: Brave New World.
His packed schedule includes the upcoming Marvel epic Avengers: Doomsday and a supporting role opposite Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the Jean-Michel Basquiat biopic Samo Lives.
A Major Narrative Shift for Season 3
The casting news comes as the series prepares for a major structural shift. Co-creator Neil Druckmann confirmed back in June that Season 3 will switch its focus to follow Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever.
This mirrors the narrative pivot in the original video game and was hinted at by the Season 2 finale. Speaking at an Emmys event in Los Angeles, Druckmann expressed gratitude that HBO allowed the creative team this freedom, stating: "I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way... Season 3 is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn."
Dever, who joined the show via video link at the same event, addressed the controversy surrounding her character, who killed fan-favourite Joel. She credited the supportive environment created by Druckmann and co-creator Craig Mazin for her positive experience on the demanding project.
No release date has been set for Season 3, though the creators have indicated they believe a fourth season will be needed to complete the adaptation of the game's story. The production will now begin the search for a new actor to step into the role of Manny.
