HOLLYWOOD — The search for two of the most pivotal characters in the The Last of Us universe has concluded. HBO announced on Friday, March 20, 2026, that Michelle Mao (Bridgerton) and Kyriana Kratter (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew) have joined the cast of Season 3 as series regulars.
Mao and Kratter will portray Yara and Lev, respectively—two siblings belonging to the “Seraphites” (also known as Scars), a fanatical religious faction that plays a central role in the second half of The Last of Us Part II.
Key Casting: Yara and Lev
For fans of the video game, the inclusion of Yara and Lev signals that Season 3 will shift its focus heavily toward Abby Anderson’s (Kaitlyn Dever) perspective.
- Michelle Mao as Yara: Fresh off her role as Rosamund in Bridgerton, Mao plays the older, protective sister who has been cast out of the Seraphite community.
- Kyriana Kratter as Lev: Kratter, known for her breakout role as KB in Skeleton Crew, will play Lev, a 13-year-old transgender boy. Lev’s journey of identity and his exile from the Seraphites form the emotional core of the game’s later chapters, serving as a “moral compass” for Abby.
”The casting for Lev followed an extensive and inclusive search for young performers of different backgrounds. Kyriana brings a remarkable depth to a role that is essentially the second protagonist of this chapter.” — Source via Deadline.
A Major Season 3 Shake-up
The casting comes amid a flurry of production news as filming for Season 3, under the working title Calm Current, began in British Columbia earlier this month.
Production Note: Following the departure of game creator Neil Druckmann from his co-showrunner role in late 2025 to focus on Naughty Dog’s new projects, Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) is now serving as the sole showrunner for the third season.
Release Window
While Season 2 is set to premiere in April 2025, Season 3 is expected to have a longer production cycle due to the scale of the “Seraphite vs. WLF” war sequences. HBO executives have tentatively slated the Season 3 premiere for early 2027.
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