New The Last of Us Season 3 Rumor Reveals Major Star Not Returning (And There’s a Good Reason)

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Just like when the video game sequel The Last of Us Part II was first released, the HBO show’s adaptation of it sparked a lot of controversy. Viewers who weren’t familiar with the games were surprised and upset when Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) was killed off by a new character. This, combined with criticism of Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie in the latest season, created a similar uproar to the one the game experienced. Despite the controversy, the show remained incredibly popular, leading to its renewal for a third season.

There’s been some concerning news about Season 3 of The Last of Us. Shortly after the season was ordered and Season 2 finished, co-creator Neil Druckmann announced he was returning to his work at Naughty Dog, likely to focus on their next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Now, a new rumor suggests a significant change: a major character may need to be recast for the upcoming season.

The Last of Us Season 3 May Recast Danny Ramirez’s Manny

Danny Ramirez, who played Manny in The Last of Us, will not be back for Season 3, according to Nexus Point News. Casting is now happening for the new season, and his role is among those being re-cast. While the reason isn’t confirmed, some believe it’s due to a scheduling conflict with filming for Avengers: Secret Wars.

Many fans recognize Anthony Ramirez from his role as Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s already appeared in five episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the film Captain America: Brave New World. He’s set to return in Avengers: Doomsday, leading to rumors he’ll also be in Avengers: Secret Wars. Fans expect Secret Wars to have a massive cast, potentially including almost every superhero who’s ever appeared in Marvel comics.

In The Last of Us, actor Manny Ramirez only appeared in four episodes of the second season, with most of his scenes happening early on. While he made brief appearances later in the season, fans know his role was supposed to be much larger in Season 3 – and that might be why he won’t be returning. Season 3, mirroring the game’s sequel, was planned to shift the focus to Kaitlyn Dever’s character, Abby. It would have filled in story gaps by showing Abby’s side of the events in Seattle and delved deeper into the conflict between the WLF and the Seraphites. If the show followed the game closely, Manny’s character would have been a key part of these episodes, acting as Abby’s roommate and appearing alongside her in several intense confrontations.

It’s still not certain if Ramirez will appear in the upcoming episodes, but the rumor seems plausible considering a major Marvel movie is in production. We also don’t know when filming will begin for Season 3 of The Last of Us. These new episodes are particularly significant, though, as they follow changes to the show’s production team and a shift in how fans reacted compared to the first season.

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2025-12-30 00:10