Danny Ramirez will not be returning for The Last of Us Season 3.
After appearing in Season 2 alongside Kaitlyn Dever as a Firefly, the actor has exited the HBO series due to scheduling conflicts, TheWrap has learned.
Ramirez appeared in four episodes as Manny Alvarez. As previously reported, the Top Gun: Maverick star was cast in Season 2 in November 2024. Manny is portrayed as a loyal and dependable soldier whose upbeat demeanor masks lingering emotional wounds and a deep fear of letting his friends down when they need him most. His character plays a key role in Abby’s (Dever) pursuit of revenge against Joel (Pedro Pascal) following Joel’s violent actions against the Fireflies in Season 1.
While Abby and Manny were introduced in Season 2, they largely served as secondary figures. Abby’s story, particularly her journey through Seattle, is expected to be explored in far greater depth from her own perspective in Season 3.
This narrative shift mirrors the structure of the video game on which the series is based. In The Last of Us Part II, players initially control Ellie as she relentlessly hunts down Abby’s friends following Joel’s death, only to later rewind and play as Abby, gaining insight into her relationships, her role within the Washington Liberation Front, and her connection to Isaac.
“We understand that both Ellie and Abby are moving forward in trouble,” showrunner Craig Mazin said during a press conference discussing the Season 2 finale. “They’re in moral trouble because their certainty is beginning to fail them. We can see that clearly with Ellie, as she’s faced with the consequences of her actions and the deaths of people who didn’t deserve to die. She’s starting to feel a shift, and we don’t know where either of them will end up. What I hope the audience feels is that they’re not done. They’re not done growing, or they’re not done falling. We’ll have to wait and see which it is.”
The Last of Us is set 20 years after modern civilization has collapsed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is tasked with smuggling Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of a strict quarantine zone. What begins as a seemingly simple mission quickly turns into a harrowing journey across the United States, forcing the pair to rely on each other to survive.
Season 2 adapted the events of The Last of Us Part II, which takes place five years after Joel and Ellie’s original cross-country journey. The story follows their lives in Jackson, Wyoming, before tragedy sets off a brutal chain of events.
Looking ahead, Ramirez remains busy with a packed slate of projects. He is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026. His Marvel credits include The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World.
Ramirez is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content, Viewpoint, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox, L.L.P.
