While the future ofThe Last of Usfranchise is still bright, the odds of there being a third installment in the series aren’t too high right now. Naughty Dog is hard at work onIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and though it began development five years ago, it’s still probably a few years away. On top of Naughty Dog’s hands being full, Neil Druckmann recently said in an interview with Variety, “don’t bet on there being more of Last of Us. This could be it.”
But that’s not a definitive no.The Last of Usis a flagship franchise for Sony, and HBO’s live-action adaptation already has plans to release at least another two seasons.The Last of Usisn’t going to fade away anytime soon, and whether it’s a few years or a few decades down the line, a thirdLast of Usgame seems inevitable. When/ifThe Last of Us Part 3happens, there are a handful of characters who could make a return.
Characters That Are Most Likely to Come Back For The Last of Us Part 3
Ellie
The heart of the franchise, Ellie would need to appear in at least some capacity in a hypotheticalLast of Us Part 3.The Last of Us Part 2ends with Ellie returning to a now-empty home, with Dina and baby JJ having left in the wake of Ellie setting off to kill Abby. Ellie’s journey ends on a tragic note, but there’s a hint of redemption there, and it’d be great to see that journey to redemption ina thirdLast of Usgame.
Dina
Heartbroken by Ellie’s decision to leave her and her son JJ in search of revenge once again, Dina disappears atthe end ofThe Last of Us Part 2. It’s unconfirmed where she and JJ went, but it’s possible she went to stay with friends or family back in Jackson. IfThe Last of Us Part 3ended up following Ellie’s journey of redemption, then it would make sense for Dina to make an appearance, either to have one final confrontation with Ellie or to forgive her.
JJ
IfThe Last of Us Part 3follows its predecessor’s formula and jumps forward a few years, it would make sense for JJ to appear in the story. It might be a nice full-circle moment to have JJ be 14 years old when he meets Ellie again, the same age she was when she met Joel. Ellie could then take on a similar mentor role, though Naughty Dog would have to verify that the plotline doesn’t feel too cliché.
Tommy
The last time fans sawTommy inThe Last of Us Part 2,he was begging Ellie to head to Santa Barbara to avenge his brother. It’s unclear what happens to Tommy after that final meeting, but there’s room for him to appear in a potentialLast of Us Part 3, perhaps as Ellie’s only connection to her past with Joel.
Abby
After being enslaved, starved, and forced to fight Ellie, Abby is let go. Along with an unconscious Lev, Abby takes a boat and heads to Catalina Island, where she believes there to be a base of Fireflies. Regardless ofwhere or whenThe Last of Us Part 3is set, or who it centers on, an appearance from Abby would make a lot of sense given that she’s essentially the second game’s co-protagonist, and that her story still has so much room to grow.
Lev
Abby and Lev are essentially a foil to Ellie and Joel’s relationship, so it would make sense for that to be explored in new ways inThe Last of Us Part 3.
Joel
Though Joel may not be around anymore, his impact onThe Last of Us' cast could still be felt in a third game. Joel could reappear in flashbacks, from the perspective of Ellie, Tommy, or even Abby.
