The highly anticipated second season of *The Last of Us* is slated to premiere on April 13, 2025, bringing a mix of familiar faces and exciting new additions to the screen. As with the first season, fans can look forward to seeing major characters from the games, such as Kaitlyn Dever's portrayal of Abby, alongside intriguing new characters like Catherine O'Hara's Gail. This guide is designed to introduce you to the key cast members you should know before diving back into Joel and Ellie's gripping journey through the post-apocalyptic world.

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

The burning question of who would portray Abby in Season 2 of The Last of Us has been answered with HBO's announcement that Kaitlyn Dever, known for her roles in Booksmart and Justified, will take on the role. Abby, a central character in The Last of Us Part 2, is described by HBO as a "skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved." She is a member of the Fireflies who crosses paths with Joel and Ellie early in the game.

"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

Young Mazino, acclaimed for his role in Beef, will join the series 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 ex-boyfriend of Ellie.

"Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him," Mazin and Druckmann remarked. "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 from Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Transformers: The Last Knight, will portray Dina, a pivotal character in The Last of Us Part 2. Dina is part of the Jackson community and Ellie's partner, whose relationship with Ellie is a core element of the story.

"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 steps into the role of Gail, a new character created for the series. While details about Gail are sparse, she appears to be Joel's therapist, assisting him in dealing with the repercussions of his choices from Season 1.

Jeffrey Wright as Isaac

Fans of The Last of Us Part 2 will recognize Jeffrey Wright reprising his role as Isaac, the ruthless leader of the Washington Liberation Front. His actions in the game set significant events into motion, and he is expected to play a crucial role in Season 2.

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 Alverez, a member of the Washington Liberation Front and a former Firefly. Manny is a friend of Abby and highly regarded by his leader, Isaac Dixon.

"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," is how HBO describes Manny.

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 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," reads HBO's description of Mel.

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

Tati Gabrielle as Nora

Tati Gabrielle, known from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Uncharted, will play Nora, another 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," is how HBO describes Nora.

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

Spencer Lord as Owen

Spencer Lord, seen in Family Law, Heartland, and The Good Doctor, will portray Owen, a member of the 'Salt Lake Crew', former Firefly, and current WLF soldier. He is currently 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," describes HBO's portrayal of Owen.

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 has announced the addition of Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix), Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3), and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) to the cast. These actors will portray characters originally from the games, with expanded roles.

Joe Pantoliano will play Eugene, Dina's pot-smoking friend, who will have a more significant role in the series. “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.”

Robert John Burke will portray Seth, the bar owner and bigot sandwich-giver from The Last of Us Part 2, while Noah Lamanna will play Kat, who dated Ellie before the events of the second game.

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

New additions to the cast include Alanna Ubach (Euphoria, Bombshell), Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Hettienne Park (Don't Look Up), who will play the newly created 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 returns as Joel, whose last appearance saw him violently rescuing Ellie from the Fireflies, killing many in the process. He lied to Ellie about the Fireflies' failure to create a cure, choosing not to reveal his actions. This deception leaves their relationship hanging in the balance.

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

Bella Ramsey as Ellie

Bella Ramsey reprises her role as Ellie, who was last seen unconscious as Joel rescued her from a potentially fatal procedure meant to find a cure for the cordyceps infection. Unaware of the events, Ellie's reaction to Joel's lie will be a focal point of the upcoming season.

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

Gabriel Luna as Tommy

Gabriel Luna returns 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 relationship with Joel and his role in the community will continue to be explored.

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

Rutina Wesley as Maria

Rutina Wesley's Maria, a leader in the Jackson community and Tommy's wife, returns. Her last interaction with Ellie hinted at the importance of trust, and her role in Season 2 is eagerly anticipated.

Will Marlene or Tess Appear in Season 2 of The Last of Us?

Merle Dandridge as Marlene

Merle Dandridge's Marlene, killed by Joel in the first season's finale, won't appear in the present timeline of Season 2. However, her character did appear in flashbacks in The Last of Us Part 2, suggesting a possible return in similar scenes.

Anna Torv as Tess

Anna Torv's Tess, a smuggler and friend of Joel, sacrificed herself after being bitten. While she didn't appear in The Last of Us Part 2, flashbacks to her life with Joel could be a way to explore their past further.

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

It appears unlikely that Nick Offerman's Bill and Murray Bartlett's Frank will return, despite their memorable episode in Season 1, which received a perfect 10/10 from IGN. While there were talks of a potential prequel, series co-creator Craig Mazin has confirmed that there won't be more stories featuring Bill and Frank. "I’m very proud of the episode we did with Bill and Frank," Mazin stated. "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, explore our breakdown of the Season 1 ending, our predictions for Season 2, and the thoughts of the HBO 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).