'The Last of Us' Season 3 Casts Star Wars Alum To Play Divisive Character in HBO's Hit Sci-Fi Horror Series

2 days ago 5

Published Mar 20, 2026, 4:32 PM EDT

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The Last of Us Season 3 has made two very important additions, and fans of the second game will know exactly why they matter. Per Deadline, HBO has officially cast Michelle Mao as Yara and Kyriana Kratter as Lev, with both joining the post-apocalyptic drama as series regulars. They are not small additions either. Yara and Lev are a huge part of Abby Anderson’s story in The Last of Us Part II, which is widely expected to be a major focus of the next season.

The upcoming season is set to include returning cast members Kaitlyn Dever, Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, Gabriel Luna, and Jeffrey Wright, while new additions also include Clea DuVall and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Manny. Jason Ritter and Patrick Wilson have also joined in recurring roles. There's also the expectation that Pedro Pascal may continue to make cameo appearances in flashback scenes, having left the show early in Season 2 to go golfing.

Mao comes to the series after landing a big role in Season 4 of Bridgerton, where she plays Rosamund, while Kratter recently appeared in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and also had a recurring role on Bunk’d.

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Who is Lev in 'The Last of Us Part II'?

Lev is a young member of the Seraphites, a religious cult, and is introduced as a pivotal character in the story, especially in relation to Abby, one of the game's main protagonists/antagonists, depending on your point of view.

Throughout the game, Lev's story is notable for its exploration of themes such as identity, belief, and family. Lev is a transgender boy who faces rejection from his religious community due to his gender identity, and it's his journey and relationship with Abby that are the heart of the exploration of human relationships in a post-apocalyptic world. He's essentially the second protagonist alongside Abby, so this was very important casting for HBO to get right.

Lev's character is portrayed as brave, resilient, and deeply loyal to those he cares about, including his sister Yara. His story adds a very particular depth to the game's narrative and provides players with a perspective on the experiences of a transgender individual in a hostile and unforgiving environment.

The third season of The Last of Us will premiere on HBO in 2027.