More changes are coming to The Last of Us season 3, with the latest update confirming that Manny will be recast for the show’s upcoming installment. Manny Alvarez was a member of The Last of Us season 2’s cast, serving as a former Firefly who later joined the WLF and became a key ally of Abby Anderson. Danny Ramirez portrayed the character for HBO’s live-action adaptation, but that will soon change.
Manny will officially be recast for The Last of Us season 3, marking the end of Ramirez’s time on the post-apocalyptic drama based on the hit video game series. The reasoning for Ramirez’s exit stems from scheduling conflicts, as The Last of Us season 3’s filming is expected to begin next spring. While not confirmed, it seems like the scheduling conflicts connect to Ramirez’s role in the MCU.
The actor is already set to reprise his role as the Falcon in Avengers: Doomsday, and there’s a good chance he will also appear in Avengers: Secret Avengers, which could overlap with The Last of Us season 3’s production. HBO hasn’t announced who will be taking over the role of Manny for season 3, but either way, it’s a shame that Ramirez had to leave the show, considering what was in store for the character.
Manny’s Recasting Is Disappointing Based On His Expanded Role In The Last Of Us Season 3
Danny Ramirez as Manny in The Last of Us season 2
Manny was one of the Washington Liberation Front members who accompanied Abby at the start of The Last of Us season 2 to track down Joel. He was also present when Abby killed Joel for what he did to her father. Though Abby, Manny, and the rest of the WLF members returned to Seattle following Joel’s death, the event caused Ellie to set out on a revenge tour of sorts. Her focus was on finding and killing Abby, but Ellie made it clear that she had no issue killing the other WLF members who were present for Joel’s death.
Manny was only in four episodes of The Last of Us season 2, but his role was expected to expand as the story switched to Abby’s POV. Like the case with The Last of Us Part II game, season 3 will focus on Abby and her group’s time in Seattle following Joel’s death, covering the same time period as Ellie and Dina’s adventure in season 2. Seeing as Manny is a close ally of Abby and one of the WLF’s best soldiers, he was set to have more of the spotlight next season.
That could still be the case for Manny’s role in The Last of Us season 3, but it’s disappointing that Ramirez won’t get a chance to flesh out the character. Based on the events of the sequel game, the show will likely dive deeper into Abby and Manny’s friendship, including how he puts his WLF loyalties on the line for her. There’s also an intense sequence involving Manny and Tommy that could become key in The Last of Us season 3.
The Recasting Continues A Concerning Trend For The Last Of Us Season 3
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last of Us
Manny could still end up being a highlight of The Last of Us season 3, even if the character is being recast. However, seeing as The Last of Us’ timeline overlaps in seasons 2 and 3, the recasting adds another unfortunate aspect to the series. We already saw Ramirez’s portrayal of Manny in Seattle, so the series can’t avoid a seamless recasting. The need to recast a character set for a bigger role also continues the ongoing concerns regarding the production of season 3.
There has already been a divisive response to The Last of Us season 3’s plan to make Abby the main character. It makes sense based on the game’s storyline, but it’s still a big risk after heavily focusing on Joel and Ellie. What’s more, the show’s co-creator, Neil Druckmann, and key writer/executive producer Halley Gross, stepped away from the series ahead of season 3.
Both were behind the creation of The Last of Us Part II, so there’s understandable worry from fans of the games who are hoping for a satisfying adaptation. With that said, there’s plenty of time for sole showrunner Craig Mazin to get everything on track since the new season isn’t being rushed. Based on production updates, The Last of Us season 3 isn’t expected to release until 2027 at the earliest. Hopefully, there won’t be more recasting news after the Manny surprise.
Release Date
January 15, 2023
Network
HBO
Showrunner
Craig Mazin