The Last of Us is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO. Based on the video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog, the series is set decades after the collapse of society caused by a mass fungal infection that transforms its hosts into zombie-like creatures. The first season, based on 2013's The Last of Us, follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they travel across the United States. In the second season, based on the first half of 2020's The Last of Us Part II, they have settled in Jackson, Wyoming, with Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Ellie's friends Dina (Isabela Merced) and Jesse (Young Mazino). The group travels to Seattle to track down Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), who is set to be the focus of the third season.
The series follows several characters. The first season sought high-profile guest stars, such as Anna Torv as Joel's partner Tess, Merle Dandridge and Melanie Lynskey as resistance leaders Marlene and Kathleen, Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett as survivalists Bill and Frank, Rutina Wesley as Tommy's wife Maria, and Storm Reid as Ellie's best friend Riley. Wesley returned in the second season, which introduces Jeffrey Wright as militia leader Isaac, and Spencer Lord, Tati Gabrielle, Ariela Barer, and Danny Ramirez as Abby's friends Owen, Nora, Mel, and Manny, respectively. The third season is set to introduce Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter as Yara and Lev, members of the Seraphites, a Seattle-based religious group.
The first season was filmed in Alberta from July 2021 to June 2022, while the second was filmed in British Columbia from February to August 2024; the third is filming in British Columbia from March to November 2026. One of the most expensive television series, it is a joint production by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, the Mighty Mint, and Word Games. Druckmann, who wrote and co-directed the games, assisted Mazin with scriptwriting for the first season's nine episodes; they were joined by Halley Gross, who co-wrote Part II, for the second season's seven. The score was composed by Gustavo Santaolalla, who composed for the games, and David Fleming.
The Last of Us premiered on January 15, 2023. Across linear channels and HBO Max, the series premiere was watched by almost 40 million viewers within two months; the series averaged almost 32 million viewers per episode by May, and it became HBO's most watched debut season. The second season premiered on April 13, 2025, and averaged almost 37 million viewers within two months. A third season is expected to air in 2027. The series received critical acclaim for its performances, writing, production design, direction, and score; several critics called it the best adaptation of a video game. It won several accolades, including nine Primetime Emmy Awards.
Plot The Last of Us is set decades after the collapse of society caused by a mass fungal infection of mutated Cordyceps that transforms its hosts into zombie-like creatures. In the first season, based on The Last of Us (2013), Joel is tasked with escorting an immune teenage girl, Ellie, across the United States to reach the Fireflies, a group of revolutionaries hoping to create a cure. Joel slaughters the Fireflies and their head doctor after discovering that synthesizing a cure would kill Ellie, and lies to her that the Fireflies had already failed to develop a cure from other immune patients.
In the second season, based on the first half of The Last of Us Part II (2020), Joel and Ellie have settled in the safe community of Jackson, Wyoming, with Joel's brother Tommy and Ellie's friends Dina and Jesse. Over five years, Joel and Ellie's relationship becomes strained due to Joel's lie. After Abby kills Joel for the death of her father, the Firefly head doctor, Ellie and Dina travel to Seattle to track her down. Ellie kills some of Abby's friends over three days before Jesse and Tommy arrive and convince her to return home. Before they can do so, Abby kills Jesse and confronts Ellie.
The third season, based on the second half of The Last of Us Part II, is set to follow Abby's three days in Seattle with her friends Owen, Nora, Mel, and Manny. Abby has her worldview challenged after meeting Yara and Lev, members of the religious group Seraphites.
Cast and characters
Main
Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller (seasons 1–2), a hardened middle-aged survivor who is tormented by the trauma of his past. He is tasked with smuggling a young girl, Ellie, out of a quarantine zone and across the United States. Joel is portrayed as more physically vulnerable in the series compared to the gamehe is hard of hearing in one ear and his knees ache when he stands. Bella Ramsey as Ellie, a teenage girl who displays defiance and anger but has a private need for kinship and belonging. She is strong-willed but playful, bonding easily with children, and has a fondness for puns. She is immune to the Cordyceps infection and may be the key to creating a vaccine. In the second season, her relationship with Joel has become strained. Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller (seasons 2–3; guest season 1), Joel's younger brother, who maintains idealism in hoping for a better world. A former member of the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group, Tommy gave up on their cause and runs a commune with his wife, Maria, in Jackson, Wyoming. They have a son named Benjamin, nicknamed "Benji". Isabela Merced as Dina (seasons 2–3), Ellie's girlfriend. She is Jesse's ex, and pregnant with his child. She is a freewheeling spirit with a loyalty towards Ellie, which is challenged by the world's brutality. Young Mazino as Jesse (seasons 2–3), Dina's ex and an important member of Jackson whose selflessness sometimes comes at a cost. Having lost everything prior to joining Jackson, he values its sense of community and works hard to ensure it is not lost. Kaitlyn Dever as Abby (season 3; recurring season 2), who seeks revenge against Joel for the death of her father and subsequently has her worldview challenged. A former Firefly in Salt Lake City, she is a soldier with the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) in Seattle. Spencer Lord as Owen (season 3; recurring season 2), a WLF member and a former Firefly who witnessed Joel's massacre in Salt Lake City. He is a gentle person whose physical strength forces him to fight enemies he does not hate. Tati Gabrielle as Nora (season 3; recurring season 2), a former Firefly. She is a WLF military medic who has difficulty accepting her past behavior. Ariela Barer as Mel (season 3; recurring season 2), a former Firefly and Owen's girlfriend. She is a WLF military doctor committed to her role while struggling with the realities of war, reluctant to hurt others. Michelle Mao as Yara (season 3), a member of the Seraphites, a religious group based in Seattle. She is Lev's sister who meets Abby on her journey. Kyriana Kratter as Lev (season 3), a member of the Seraphites. He is a 13-year-old transgender boy and Yara's brother.
Recurring
Anna Torv as Tess (season 1), a hardened survivor and Joel's partner. Tess is respected in the Boston Quarantine Zone, largely out of fear. She is protective of Ellie during their escort mission. Rutina Wesley as Maria (season 2; guest season 1), a co-leader of Jackson. She is Tommy's wife and Benjamin's mother. Formerly an assistant district attorney, Maria is calm and merciful.
Robert John Burke as Seth (season 2), a former police officer who runs a bar in Jackson. He has traditional values and helps Ellie and Dina after drunkenly insulting them. Danny Ramirez (season 2) and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (season 3) as Manny, a WLF member and a former Firefly. A loyal soldier who fears failing his friends, he maintains a jovial attitude despite the pain of his past. The character was recast for the third season due to scheduling conflicts. Catherine O'Hara as Gail (season 2), Joel's therapist and Eugene's wife. She is cynical, not deceived by Joel's posturing. Jeffrey Wright as Isaac Dixon (season 3; guest season 2), the ruthless leader of the WLF and a former high-ranking sergeant for the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA). The WLF face a war in their pursuit for liberty. Wright reprises his role from the video game.
Jason Ritter as Hanley (season 3), a WLF soldier. Ritter previously had a cameo appearance in the first season as a clicker. Patrick Wilson as Jerry (season 3), Abby's father whom Joel killed. The character was briefly portrayed by Darren Dolynski in the first-season finale. Peter Sarsgaard as Amon (season 3), a leader of the Seraphites
Guest Season 1
Nico Parker as Sarah, Joel's 14-year-old daughter. She cares for her father, playfully teasing him over his behavior and attitude. John Hannah as Dr. Neuman, an epidemiologist who issues a warning about the threat of fungi during a talk show in 1968. Merle Dandridge as Marlene, the head of the Fireflies, a resistance movement hoping to gain freedom from the military. Dandridge reprises her role from the video games. Christopher Heyerdahl as Dr. Schoenheiss, an epidemiologist on the 1968 talk show who is skeptical of Neuman's warning. Brendan Fletcher as Robert, a thug and black market arms dealer in the Boston Quarantine Zone. Robert fears Joel's retribution against his actions.
Christine Hakim as Ratna Pertiwi, a mycology professor who advises the Indonesian government to bomb Jakarta to slow the spread of the infection, for which she feels hopeless.
Nick Offerman as Bill, a misanthropic survivalist. Bill's paranoia and distrust of the government left him prepared for the pandemic, protected in an underground bunker. Murray Bartlett as Frank, a survivalist living in an isolated town with Bill. Frank is friendlier and more trusting than Bill, forming a close bond with Tess and Joel.
Lamar Johnson as Henry Burrell, who is hiding from a revolutionary movement in Kansas City. Henry is hurt by his own actions but ultimately does them to protect his younger brother Sam. Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen Coghlan, the leader of a revolutionary movement in Kansas City. Kathleen is soft-spoken and outwardly sweet but an intelligent and often ruthless leader. Keivonn Montreal Woodard as Sam, a deaf, artistic eight-year-old child who is hiding with his brother Henry. Sam was diagnosed with leukemia at a young age. Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, a revolutionary rebel in a quarantine zone and former military member, who is Kathleen's second-in-command. Pierce portrayed Tommy in the video games. John Getz as Edelstein, a Kansas City doctor who protects Henry and Sam from Kathleen and the rebels.
Graham Greene as Marlon, a Native American hunter who has lived with his wife Florence in the wilderness of Wyoming since before the pandemic. Marlon is resourceful and untrusting of strangers. Elaine Miles as Florence, who lives with her husband Marlon. Florence is calm and humorous. Unlike Marlon, she did not want to isolate in the wilderness.
Storm Reid as Riley Abel, an orphaned girl who is Ellie's best friend at military school in post-apocalyptic Boston. Riley ran away from military school to join the Fireflies, considering the former to be fascists.
Scott Shepherd as David, a preacher who leads a struggling community. David is calm and acts as a caring leader, but is manipulative and abusive. He claims to have found God after the outbreak and views the virus as a form of divine justice. Troy Baker as James, David's aide. James lacks faith in David but wants to be considered his equal, feeling threatened when Ellie's capabilities threaten to usurp his position. Baker previously portrayed Joel in the video games.