Laura Bailey, the talented actress who voiced Abby in The Last of Us Part II, has been confirmed to join the third season of HBO Max's eponymous series in a brand-new role; the original actor who played Lev in the game will also be returning.
Although HBO's The Last of Us made significant adaptations to the original game—such as the origin of the outbreak, the spore transmission mechanic, and even the iconic porch scene—it largely remained faithful to the source material. One key way the series pays homage to the original is by bringing back core voice actors from the game to play new characters.
In the first season, Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, the original voice actors for Joel and Ellie, as well as Jeffrey Pierce, who voiced Tommy, all appeared in the series in new roles. This has led players to wonder whether Laura Bailey, who portrayed Abby in the game, would also make a crossover appearance.
According to Variety, The Last of Us recently announced three new cast members for its third season, with John Goodman set to play Joey, one half of the "Highway Duo." While Goodman's addition is significant, the real surprise comes from two familiar faces from The Last of Us Part II—Laura Bailey and Ian Alexander.
Laura Bailey's portrayal of Abby in the game was iconic, and she faced considerable online harassment because of the role. This time, she will play Elizabeth, one of the leaders of the Seraphite cult. Ironically, the Seraphites were Abby's main adversaries in the game, and now the actress who originally voiced Abby is set to portray a leader of that very organization.
Ian Alexander, who delivered an outstanding performance as Lev in The Last of Us Part II, will now play Paco, the other member of the "Highway Duo." While it may lack the fun of a contrasting role, it's still delightful to see Alexander return to the series in any capacity, especially alongside a seasoned actor like Goodman.
The third season of The Last of Us is expected to premiere in 2027. However, HBO executive Casey Bloys admitted that he himself is unsure how long the series will continue, so the exact release date has not yet been finalized. For now, at least, we can look forward to seeing Bailey and Alexander's performances in the series.