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

The highly anticipated second season of *The Last of Us* is slated to premiere on April 13, 2025, introducing new characters while bringing back beloved ones. Just as in the first season, major characters from the games, such as Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, will make their debut, alongside intriguing new additions like Catherine O'Hara's Gail.

To prepare you for the continuation of Joel and Ellie's journey in this captivating post-apocalyptic world, we've compiled a comprehensive guide to the key cast members you should know.

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

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The Last of Us TV Show Season 2 New Cast

Kaitlyn Dever as Abby

The burning question on everyone's mind for Season 2 was who would take on the role of Abby. HBO answered this by casting Booksmart and Justified star Kaitlyn Dever.

Abby, a pivotal character from The Last of Us Part 2, is a member of the Fireflies who crosses paths with Joel and Ellie early in the game. 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."

"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," stated 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

Beef star Young Mazino will join the cast as Jesse, described as a "pillar of the community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at terrible cost."

Jesse, introduced in The Last of Us Part 2, 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 said. "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, known for Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Transformers: The Last Knight, will portray Dina, a key member of the Jackson community and Ellie's partner. Her relationship with Ellie evolves significantly throughout the game.

"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 cope with the consequences of his actions from Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright as Isaac

Fans of The Last of Us Part 2 will be thrilled to see Jeffrey Wright reprise his role as Isaac, the ruthless leader of the Washington Liberation Front. Isaac's actions in the game are pivotal, and his role in the series is expected to be just as significant.

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

Danny Ramirez as Manny

Danny Ramirez, known for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Top Gun: Maverick, will play Manny Alvarez, a member of the Washington Liberation Front and a former Firefly. He is a friend of Abby and one of the best soldiers under Isaac Dixon's command.

"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," according to the official HBO description.

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 a 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," as per the official HBO description.

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

Tati Gabrielle as Nora

Tati Gabrielle, known for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Uncharted, will play Nora, a 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," reads the official HBO description.

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

Spencer Lord as Owen

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

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

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, including three characters from the games with expanded roles and three new characters.

Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix) will play Eugene, Dina's pot-smoking friend from The Last of Us Part 2, who will have a more significant role this season. Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3) will portray Seth, the bar owner and bigot sandwich-giver from the game. Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) will play Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend.

“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.”

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) have joined 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)

The Last of Us TV Show Season 2 Returning Cast

Pedro Pascal as Joel

Pedro Pascal will reprise his role as Joel, who, at the end of Season 1, went on a rampage against the Fireflies to save Ellie. Despite Marlene explaining that the procedure to extract a potential cure from Ellie would kill her, Joel chose to rescue her and lied about the Fireflies' failure to develop a cure, leaving behind a trail of bloodshed.

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

Bella Ramsey as Ellie

Bella Ramsey returns as Ellie, who was unconscious during the hospital events and unaware of the sacrifices made to save her. Joel's lie about the Fireflies' failure left Ellie with an uneasy feeling, setting the stage for their complex relationship in Season 2.

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

Gabriel Luna as Tommy

Gabriel Luna will return as Tommy, Joel's brother, who played a significant role in The Last of Us Part 2. Last seen in Jackson with his wife, Maria, Tommy initially agreed to take Ellie to the Fireflies but was left behind when Joel decided to continue the journey himself.

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

Rutina Wesley as Maria

Rutina Wesley returns as Maria, the leader of the Jackson community and Tommy's wife. Last seen cutting Ellie's hair and advising her to be cautious, Maria's role in Season 2 is highly 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 the final episode of Season 1, so she won't appear in the present timeline of Season 2. However, flashbacks from The Last of Us Part 2 might bring her back.

Anna Torv as Tess

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

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

It doesn’t sound like it…

The episode focusing on Nick Offerman's Bill and Murray Bartlett's Frank was a highlight of the first season, earning a rare 10/10 from us. Their love story, though concluded, left a lasting impact.

“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 there was hope for more through flashbacks or even a prequel series, co-creator Craig Mazin has confirmed that there won't be more Bill and Frank. "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, check out our breakdown of the ending of The Last of Us Season 1, our Season 2 predictions, and insights from the creators on Joel's decision to save Ellie.

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