HBO is expanding the cast of *The Last of Us* ahead of Season 3, adding veteran actor John Goodman along with *The Last of Us: Part II* voice actors Laura Bailey and Ian Alexander. Multiple outlets report that Goodman plays Joey, while Bailey and Alexander appear in new roles rather than reprising their game characters.
According to the reports, Bailey plays Elizabeth, a Seraphite leader, and Alexander plays Paco. Kaitlyn Dever is reported as the live-action performer for Abby, and the show casts Kyriana Kratter as Lev, despite Alexander and Bailey previously voicing Lev and Abby in the games. Goodman is described as joining alongside the “Heroes of the Highway” duo that also includes Paco.
The outlets also note broader context around the series’ direction and future. GameSpot and others reference statements from HBO and the show’s leadership suggesting Season 3 could be the final season, while reporting a creative shift in which Naughty Dog and Neil Druckmann are not involved creatively in Season 3. Coverage ties Bailey and Alexander’s casting to the show’s ongoing practice of bringing game actors into the live-action adaptation in different parts.
