Danny Ramirez to Exit The Last of Us Season 3 Role

Danny Ramirez, who portrayed Manny Alvarez in the second season of HBO's "The Last of Us," will not return for the third season due to scheduling conflicts, leaving the role to be recast. The departure, first reported by industry outlets and confirmed by HBO sources, comes as the series prepares to delve deeper into the perspective of Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever, where Manny's character was expected to play a more prominent part.

Ramirez joined the cast in November 2024 for Season 2, appearing in four episodes as Manny, a loyal former member of the rebel group known as the Fireflies. Described by HBO as a soldier whose optimistic demeanor masks lingering trauma and anxiety over letting down his allies, Manny supported Abby in her quest for revenge against Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal. This storyline stems from Joel's actions at the end of Season 1, where he massacred Fireflies to rescue Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey. In the post-apocalyptic world of the series, set 20 years after a fungal pandemic devastated civilization, Manny and Abby are part of the Washington Liberation Front, or WLF, navigating conflicts in Seattle and beyond.

Season 2, which premiered last April,...