The highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us is set to premiere on April 13, 2025, promising to bring both familiar faces and intriguing new characters to the screen. Alongside beloved characters from the video game series, viewers can look forward to seeing Kaitlyn Dever as Abby and the mysterious Catherine O'Hara as Gail. As Joel and Ellie's journey continues in this gripping post-apocalyptic world, we've prepared a comprehensive guide to help you get acquainted with the cast of Season 2.

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

19 Images The Last of Us TV Show Season 2 New Cast

Kaitlyn Dever as Abby

One of the most eagerly awaited announcements for Season 2 was the casting of Abby, and HBO delivered with the talented Kaitlyn Dever from Booksmart and Justified. Abby, a pivotal character from The Last of Us Part 2, is a skilled soldier with the Fireflies, whose black-and-white worldview is challenged as she seeks vengeance. "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 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, will portray Jesse, a community leader in Jackson, Wyoming, who prioritizes others' needs at great personal cost. Introduced in The Last of Us Part 2, Jesse is 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, known for her roles in Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Transformers: The Last Knight, will bring Dina to life. Dina is a crucial character in Jackson and Ellie's partner, whose relationship deeply influences the narrative. "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 joins the cast as Gail, a new character created for the series. While details are scarce, Gail appears to be Joel's therapist, assisting him in dealing with the consequences of his choices from Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright as Isaac

Jeffrey Wright, acclaimed for his roles in Westworld and The Batman, will reprise his role as Isaac, the leader of the Washington Liberation Front, whose actions significantly impact the story in The Last of Us Part 2.

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

Danny Ramirez as Manny

Danny Ramirez, seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Top Gun: Maverick, will portray Manny Alvarez, a former Firefly and a member of the Washington Liberation Front. Manny is described 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 2 Game? Alejandro Edda

Ariela Barer as Mel

Ariela Barer, known from Runaways, will play Mel, a medic with the Washington Liberation Front and a former Firefly. She is described 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 2 Game? Ashly Burch

Tati Gabrielle as Nora

Tati Gabrielle, recognized from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Uncharted, will portray Nora, a medic and part of Abby's 'Salt Lake Crew'. She is described as "a military medic struggling to come to terms with the sins of her past."

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 play Owen, a former Firefly and current soldier in the WLF. He is described 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 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 Season 2, including Joe Pantoliano, Robert John Burke, and Noah Lamanna, who will play characters from the games with expanded roles. Pantoliano will portray Eugene, Dina's pot-smoking friend, whose role will delve deeper into Joel and Ellie's relationship. Burke will play Seth, the bar owner and bigot from The Last of Us Part 2, while Lamanna will portray 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, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park join the cast as new characters Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively, bringing fresh dynamics to the series.

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, whose actions in Season 1 left a lasting impact. After rescuing Ellie from the Fireflies, Joel's lie about the failed cure and the bloodshed he caused will undoubtedly strain their relationship in Season 2.

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

Bella Ramsey as Ellie

Bella Ramsey returns as Ellie, whose trust in Joel was shaken by his deception at the end of Season 1. As they continue their journey, the repercussions of Joel's choices will be central to their evolving dynamic.

Who Voiced Bella 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's involvement in Joel and Ellie's story will be crucial in Season 2.

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

Rutina Wesley as Maria

Rutina Wesley will reprise her role as Maria, a leader in Jackson and Tommy's wife. Her insights and leadership will continue to influence the community and the series' narrative.

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, ruling out her return in the present timeline of Season 2. However, her presence in flashbacks from The Last of Us Part 2 suggests she might appear in similar sequences in the upcoming season.

Anna Torv as Tess

Anna Torv's Tess met a tragic end in Season 1 after sacrificing herself to save Joel and Ellie. While she didn't appear in The Last of Us Part 2, flashbacks exploring her relationship with Joel could be a possibility in Season 2.

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

Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that we'll see more of Bill and Frank. Their poignant love story in Season 1 was a standout, earning a rare 10/10 from IGN. "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. Despite Offerman's playful suggestion of a prequel, co-creator Craig Mazin 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 insights, check out our breakdown of the ending of The Last of Us Season 1, our predictions for Season 2, and the creators' thoughts 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).