The Last of Us Season 3 Replaces Manny Following Danny Ramirez’s Surprising Departure
UPDATE — 2/4/26, 8:19 a.m. ET: HBO is gearing up for The Last of Us season 3.
Deadline reported on Tuesday, February 3, that Spider-Man: No Way Home star Jorge Lendeborg Jr. has been cast as Manny in season 3 of The Last of Us, following the unexpected departure of Danny Ramirez late last year.
Original story:
Season 3 of The Last of Us will feature a change, as Danny Ramirez‘s portrayal of Manny has been recast.
Various outlets reported on December 29 that Ramirez, 33, would be leaving the show due to scheduling conflicts. He initially joined in season 2 as Manny, a character described as “a loyal soldier whose sunny demeanor conceals the pain of past wounds and a fear of failing his friends when they need him most.”
Manny is a former member of the Fireflies rebel group and allied with Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) to seek revenge on Joel (Pedro Pascal) for the deadly assault he conducted on the Firefly hospital to save Ellie (Bella Ramsey).
Inspired by the video game developed by Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us navigates a post-apocalyptic landscape dominated by a fungal infection that transforms humans into zombie-like creatures. Central to the narrative is smuggler Joel, tasked with escorting immune teen Ellie across America to reach the revolutionaries seeking a cure.
Season 2 concluded with a shocking turn — predicted by ardent fans of the video game — when Pascal’s character met his end in the second episode.
“I’m in active denial,” Pascal, 50, shared with Entertainment Weekly in April. “As I age, I increasingly find myself slipping into denial that anything has ended.”
He continued, “I know I’ll always be connected to so many from this journey and just have to meet them again under different circumstances, but never in the context of playing Joel on The Last of Us.”
The acclaimed HBO series devised a way to retain Pascal in a flashback format throughout the remainder of the season.
“It was wonderful to see Pedro and Bella together once more; to witness their happiest moments, their saddest, and their angriest,” Druckmann told The Hollywood Reporter in May. “Exploring all those emotional depths was truly a joy. I’m incredibly proud of the outcome, and I was understandably anxious.”
After the announcement of The Last of Us being renewed for a third season, it was confirmed that Ramsey, 22, would no longer lead the franchise.
Dever’s Abby will take center stage in the upcoming season, with the actress, 29, stating to Deadline in April, “The scripts, dialogue, and storyline are so impressive that I approach season 3 with nothing but excitement and no hesitation. I’m thrilled to be part of such a fantastic show.”
Dever also addressed the backlash regarding her role in the character responsible for Joel’s demise.
“I try to avoid looking at the criticism too much as I move forward, particularly as I take on this role,” Dever shared with Screen Rant in March. “I want to honor this character and make the fans proud by bringing her to life in a meaningful way.”
