The Last of Us Season 3: Kaitlyn Dever Teases Abby-Focused Storyline and Filming Update

Kaitlyn Dever is officially gearing up to return to the world of The Last of Us, and her latest update has given fans a clearer idea of where “The Last of Us Season 3” is heading next.

In a recent interview with Deadline, the actress revealed that she is just days away from beginning preparations for Season 3, which is set to film in British Columbia. Dever shared that she is currently “mentally and physically” getting ready, as her role in the upcoming season will be much larger than before.

“I’m so excited to kind of take on a much bigger role in the season,” she said, hinting at the dramatic shift in focus viewers can expect.

Abby Takes Center Stage

Dever plays Abby, a character who made a huge impact in Season 2. The finale ended on a tense cliffhanger, with Abby confronting Ellie at the theater in Seattle. In a shocking moment, Jesse is killed, Tommy is held at gunpoint, and Ellie is forced into the open—before the screen cuts to black.

But the episode didn’t stop there. In its final moments, the story jumps back in time and shows Abby at the WLF’s stadium base, with the words “Seattle Day 1” appearing on screen. This suggests that Season 3 will rewind the timeline and retell those same days—this time from Abby’s perspective—mirroring the structure of The Last of Us Part II video game.

Dever believes fans will embrace this new direction.

“The fans are really going to like it,” she said. “The shifting perspective onto Abby, getting some more context onto her storyline and going back in time with this season.”

This perspective shift will also help viewers understand Abby’s motivations, including her revenge arc that led to Joel’s death—an event that reshaped the entire story.

Major Changes Behind the Scenes

Season 3 will also arrive with notable changes off-screen. Neil Druckmann, co-creator of the video game and co-showrunner of the series, has stepped back from writing and directing duties, though he remains attached as an executive producer and co-creator. Halley Gross, who co-wrote The Last of Us Part II and served as an executive producer and writer on the show, has also exited her day-to-day role.

Additionally, it was recently reported that Danny Ramirez, who played Manny in Season 2, has left the show due to scheduling conflicts. The character will be recast, though HBO has not yet announced who will take over the role.

Despite these changes, the production is moving forward, and Dever’s comments confirm that filming is close to beginning.

When Will Season 3 Premiere?

HBO has not revealed an official release date yet, but based on the gap between Seasons 1 and 2, 2027 is widely seen as the most likely window for the next chapter.

For now, fans are left with two unresolved cliffhangers: the gunshot that ended Season 2—leaving Ellie’s fate unknown—and Abby’s mysterious “Day 1” journey. With Season 3 stepping back in time, it’s unclear when the present-day storyline will resume.

A World Still Worth Watching

The Last of Us is set in a world where modern civilization collapsed after a deadly infection spread across the globe. The series follows survivors trying to find meaning, safety, and connection in a violent, broken society. Seasons 2 and 3 take place five years after the original story, as Joel and Ellie face new enemies, new choices, and the consequences of their past.

The show stars Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, and Young Mazino, and has been praised by both critics and fans, earning a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score along with multiple award nominations.

With Abby now stepping into the spotlight, Season 3 promises to challenge what viewers think they know—and, according to Dever, finally give them the answers they’ve been waiting for.