The Last of Us just cast a major face for season 3 as a new character, representing a rare break from the source material.
The Last of Us is the rare case of a video game adaptation that’s won over both gamer fans and newcomers alike. The first season adapted the acclaimed, award-winning 2013 PlayStation game that’s set 20 years after a deadly plague wrecked civilization, transforming ordinary people into feral creatures nicknamed “clickers.”
The first season followed Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor tasked with protecting young Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who was immune to the virus and could be the key to finding a cure. The second season began adapting the 2020 sequel, The Last of Us Part II, where Joel is brutally killed by a new character named Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) as revenge for Joel killing her father.
The season ended with Abby holding Ellie at gunpoint before flashing back to Abby in a Seattle military camp on the day when Ellie and her partner Dina (Isabella Merced) first infiltrated the city. It appears season 3 will follow the other half of the second game, told from Abby’s perspective.
Now, Deadline reports that two-time Emmy nominee Peter Sarsgaard has joined in a recurring role. He’ll play Amon, one of the leaders of the Seraphites or “Scars,” a wicked cult that battles the Washington Liberation Front for control of Seattle. Notably, this character doesn’t appear in the game.
The timing of the casting is interesting as The Last of Us is about to undergo a brief filming hiatus. That’s likely because Vancouver, where it's filming, is hosting several FIFA World Cup games, which are disrupting pretty much everything in the area. Once the World Cup is over, filming should recommence for season 3, which is rumored to be the final season for the series.
What does Sarsgaard’s casting mean for Abby?
The casting of Sarsgaard as a completely original character is a break from the series, which has mostly stayed faithful to the games’ storylines. It could mean that season 3 will delve more into Abby’s time before the events of season 2, or expand on the three traumatic days covered in the Seattle section of the game.
While the Seraphites have been featured in the games, there hasn’t been a deep exploration of them since the focus is usually restricted to Joel, Ellie or Abby. Likely, the writers are hoping to expand on this world and show the various factions battling for power and survival. It may keep to the show's tone that neither side is truly good or bad, but rather both equally dark with valid motivations in their struggle to survive.
Sarsgaard is likely to be a chief antagonist for Abby, which could help get viewers on her side after she murdered one of the most beloved characters on the show. Gamers were thrown when they had to play as Abby during the game, only to come around once they saw more of her difficult life. While not a heroine, she became far more sympathetic. Giving Abby a deadly opponent makes her easier to root for, despite her actions.
With his amazing talent in The Killing, Dopesick and Presumed Innocent, Sarsgaard has the acting clout to portray a twisted cult leader. Seeing him going against Dever should provide the show with some dramatic turns and boost the storyline. We have to wait a while to see how it develops, but this new casting promises that season 3 of The Last of Us will be worth the wait.
The Last of Us seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on HBO Max.
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