Emmy-winning actor John Goodman, alongside Ian Alexander and Laura Bailey, has joined the cast of HBO's The Last of Us for its third season. Alexander and Bailey bring particular significance to their casting, as both previously lent their voices to characters in The Last of Us: Part II video game—Alexander voiced Lev and Bailey voiced Abby—though they will play different characters in the television adaptation. Goodman will portray Joey, a character who partners with Alexander's Paco to form a duo calling themselves the "Heroes of the Highway," whilst Bailey will play Elizabeth, a leader of the Seraphites, the religious sect expected to feature prominently in the coming season. This casting decision continues HBO's established pattern of drawing talent from the video game universe.

The third season is scheduled to premiere in 2027 and is anticipated to be the series' final chapter, with showrunner Craig Mazin reportedly having planned it as such, though HBO has not officially confirmed this. Season 3 will focus on Abby Anderson's narrative arc, particularly her connection to the Seraphites, with Pedro Pascal's character Joel killed off in the Season 2 finale—though flashback appearances remain a possibility. Additional cast members joining include Peter Sarsgaard, Jason Ritter, Patrick Wilson and others, expanding the ensemble as the story explores the post-apocalyptic conflict between factions.