'Sinners' Li Jun Li Joins the Cast of 'The Last of Us' Season 3

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Minor spoilers below.

We haven’t yet reached the last ofThe Last of Us. Ahead of the highly anticipated season 2 premiere in April 2025, HBO announced that the hit sci-fi series—based on the popular PlayStationvideo game franchiseof the same name—has already been renewed for a third season.

The announcement didn’t come as a surprise. Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann had spent months dropping hints that they would need multiple seasons to adapt the gamesThe Last of Us: Part IandThe Last of Us: Part II, and thatPart II’s storyline, in particular, would stretch wellbeyond season 2. As Mazin toldDeadlinein 2024, “We don’t think that we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons [2 and 3] because we’re taking our time to go down interesting pathways, which we did a little bit in season 1, too. Season 3 will be significantly larger. And indeed, the story may require season 4.” (Similarly, HBO executive Francesca Orsi toldthe outletin February 2025 that “it’s looking like four seasons.”)

Even before these teases, there was little doubt the series would continue as long as necessary. Actress Bella Ramsey, who plays protagonist Ellie Williams,told ELLE in 2023that she would play the character for as long as HBO wanted her. “There’s no limits for me,” Ramsey says. “They can do as many games as they like, as many series as they like, and I’ll be here, flying back out to Canada.” (Mazin also shared his enthusiasm with ELLE, adding that, “To get to the end of the story in the time that we need to take to get to the proper end would be awesome. If I got to work on a set with Bella Ramsey every day for the rest of my life, I’d be thrilled.”)

However, major news soon arrived in July 2025, when fans learned that Druckmann would depart the HBO series in favor of his commitments with Naughty Dog, the game studio for which he serves as head. “I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creativeinvolvement inThe Last of Uson HBO,” he saidin a statementshared with press. “With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game.” He reiterated that the show would, indeed, go on without him: “I look forward to HBO and PlayStation Productions continuing Ellie and Abby’s story next season.”

Here’s what we know so far about season 3.

What will season 3 ofThe Last of Usbe about?

Season 3 will take a backwards time jump to “Seattle Day One,” depicting Abby’s story during the same time period that Ellie and Dina are searching for her in season 2. In aGQinterviewpublished after the finale, Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, said, “I think Craig [Mazin] is still trying to write the season. I have no idea what their plans are. Craig says [season 3] is even more intense than season 2, which I don’t know how…[But] that’s all he told me.”

In a May 2025 interview withCollider, Mazin responded to questions about the potential length of season 3, given that season 2 covers only a portion of thePart IIplot.

“I think there’s a decent chance that season 3 will be longer than season 2, just because the manner of that narrative and the opportunities it affords us are a little different,” he explained. “The thing about Joel’s death is that it’s so impactful. It’s such a narrative nuclear bomb that it’s hard to wander away from it [in season 2]. We can’t really take a break and move off to the side and do a Bill and Frank story.”

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Mazin continued, “I’m not sure that will necessarily be true for season 3. I think we’ll have a little more room there. But certainly, there’s no way to complete this narrative in a third season. Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome.”

It is also part of the original game narrative that the perspective shifts from Ellie to Abby, showcasing her backstory and perspective as someone traumatized by Joel’s actions inPart I. As theseason 2 finale makes clearin its final moments, Abby’s saga will indeed enter the spotlight in season 3.

Who will be cast in season 3 ofThe Last of Us?

We can expect Ramsey to return as Ellie, as well asDever as Abbyand Isabela Merced as Dina. Whether or not Pedro Pascal will make an appearance in a flashback is as yet unclear. Other cast members likely to return include Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Spencer Lord as Owen, Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, and Alanna Ubach as Hanrahan.

Danny Ramirez, however, will not return as Manny due to scheduling conflicts,Varietyreported. The role has been recast, with Ramirez’s replacement set to be Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spider-Man: Homecoming). PerTheWrap, Clea DuVall will also join season 3 as a Seraphite.

In March 2026,Deadlinerevealed more cast changes. Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord have been promoted to series regulars, suggesting their characters will play a bigger role this time around.

Meanwhile, Jason Ritter and Patrick Wilson are joining the cast in new roles. Ritter will play Hanley, a WLF soldier, while Wilson is set to portray Jerry, Abby’s father.

Bridgerton’s Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter ofStar Wars: Skeleton Crewwere cast as siblings Yara and Lev, companions to Abby,per Deadline. In April 2026,Deadlineannounced that Li Jun Li ofSinnerswas joining the cast as Mirium, Lev and Yara’s mother.

Has production started for season 3 ofThe Last of Us?

In an interview withVarietyreleased May 4, 2025, actress Isabela Merced who plays Dina, discussed some production expectations. When asked if she knew when filming of season 3 would begin, Merced replied, “No, but I think it should be next year.”

When will season 3 ofThe Last of Uscome out?

On July 15, HBO and Max’s content chairman and CEO, Casey Bloys, addressed season 3’s release date. “The series is definitely planned for 2027,” Bloys toldVariety. “Craig [Mazin] is still working it out whether it will be two more seasons or one more long season. It hasn’t been decided yet, and I’m following Craig’s lead on that.”

This story will be updated.

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byLiam Oneel

in

April 18, 2026

'Sinners' Li Jun Li Joins the Cast of 'The Last of Us' Season 3

"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Minor spoilers below. We h...

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The Dodgers shattered MLB's spending record at $515 million in 2025, 7 times the lowest payroll

NEW YORK (AP) — The Dodgers shattered Major League Baseball's spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury tax last year en route to theirsecond straight World Series title, according to final figures compiled by the commissioner's office, and Los Angeles is projected for the highest total again in 2026.

Rangers Dodgers Baseball

Los Angeles' 2025 spending included records for payroll at $345.3 million and tax of $169.4 million for a total of $514.6 million. Despite several contracts discounted to reflect deferred payments, the Dodgers' total was seven times the $68.7 million payroll of the Miami Marlins, the lowest-spending team, and more than the payrolls of the bottom six clubs combined.

Spending by the Dodgers last year topped theprevious high of $430.4 million by the 2024 New York Mets— and Los Angeles' total didn't include the$6.5 million signing bonus given pitcher Roki Sasakias part of a minor league contract.

The Mets and Dodgers combined to spend $948.3 million. The ratio of the five highest spenders to the five lowest increased from 3.6 in 2021 to a record-high 4.7 last year.

The Dodgers in 2025 ended the Mets' three-year streak as the top payroll, boosted by $8.5 million in earned bonuses by retiring ace Clayton Kershaw.

Los Angeles' total would have been about $71 million higher but for the use of deferred money for seven players that resulted in discounting for their payroll calculations.Shohei Ohtani counts at $28.2 millionbecause $68 million of his $70 million salary last year isn't due until 2035.

The Mets finished second in payroll at $342.1 million and with tax had a total spend of $433.7 million.

In the first five seasons after owner Steve Cohen bought the team, the Mets spent $1.44 billion without winning a title: $1.11 billion in payroll and $320 million in tax.

Both the Mets and Dodgers exceeded the previous record-high payrollset by the 2024 Mets at $333.3 million.

Lois Angeles is projected as of MLB’s opening-day figures to lead in 2026 spending with a $323.3 million payroll for its 40-man roster and a $163.7 million tax for a $487.1 million total. The Mets began with a record payroll at $358.4 million and have a projected tax of $124.1 million for a $482.5 million spend.

Cleveland has the lowest opening day 40-man payroll this year at $75.5 million.

Total spending, based on regular payrolls, rose 3.1% to $5.32 billion last year from $5.16 billion in 2024 and has increased 31.3% in four seasons under the current labor contract from $4.05 billion in 2021.

Those figures do not include the $50 million annual pre-arbitration bonus pool that began in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement or allocations for benefits, which are included in MLB's luxury tax payrolls.

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Among luxury tax payrolls, eight teams began 2026 over the $244 million tax threshold. The Dodgers ($415.2 million), Mets ($379.2 million) and New York Yankees ($339.6 million) were followed by Toronto ($319.5 million), Philadelphia ($315.2 million), Boston ($263.7 million), San Diego ($260.1 million) and Atlanta ($247.9 million).

The Chicago Cubs started $25,000 under and Detroit $2.5 million below. Payrolls increase and decrease during the season due to trades and roster moves.

The Yankees finished 2025 with the third-highest regular payroll at $301.5 million, followed by Philadelphia ($291.9 million), AL champion Toronto ($253.1 million), Houston ($236.4 million) and Texas ($229.9 million).

Four of the top five spenders reached the playoffs, except the Mets, along with teams whose payrolls ranked ninth, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd and 25th.

The Dodgers boosted payroll the most in 2025 at $74.4 million. Other teams with big 2025 increases were Detroit ($61.9 million), Baltimore ($60.2 million to $165.6 million), San Diego ($45.6 million to $217.6 million), Philadelphia ($42.8 million) and Toronto ($34.7 million).

Fifteen teams cut payroll from 2024 to 2025, led by the Chicago White Sox (by $66.1 million to $87.9 million), St. Louis ($39.3 million to $139.1 million), Miami ($29.4 million to $68.8 million) and San Francisco (by $28 million to $182.9 million). The Cardinals have further slashed payroll to $102.3 million on opening day this year, and that includes about $47.4 million attributable to trades involving three players no longer with the Cardinals: Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras.

The Yankees cut payroll by $9.4 million from 2024 to 2025 and have raised it to $302.8 million this year.

Eleven teams topped $200 million in 2025,matching the record set in 2023. Five teams were below $100 million, one more than therecord-low in 2024.

Regular payrolls for last year are based on 2025 salaries, earned bonuses and prorated shares of signing bonuses and non-cash compensation for 40-man rosters. Deferred salaries and bonus payments are discounted to present-day values, and termination pay, option buyouts and cash transactions among clubs are accounted for.

MLB calculated the average salary as of Aug. 31, the last day before active rosters expanded to 26, at $4,611,595. The players' association, using a slightly different methodology, arrived at$4,721,393,

Luxury taxis based on payrolls with average annual values that include benefits and thepre-arbitration bonus pool. The players' association doesn't think tax payments should be used in measuring disparity because half the tax money goes to a commissioner’s discretionary fund distributed among teams eligible to receive revenue-sharing money which have grown their non-media local revenue.

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

byLiam Oneel

in

April 17, 2026

The Dodgers shattered MLB's spending record at $515 million in 2025, 7 times the lowest payroll

NEW YORK (AP) — The Dodgers shattered Major League Baseball's spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury ta...

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Gout qualifies fastest for 100 at Australian junior titles after winning the 200 impressively

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Star teenager Gout Gout has qualified fastest for Saturday's 100-meter semifinals at the Australian junior athletics championships, less than a week after setting an under-20 world record time in the 200 that was faster thanUsain Bolt'sbest at that age.

The 18-year-old Australian sprinter finished Friday in a time of 10.19 seconds at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. He entered the heats with the best qualifying time of 10.0 seconds.

Local media is reporting Gout has his eye on lowering Patrick Johnson's national open record for the 100 of 9.93, set in Japan in 2003.

Last Sunday, Gout ran his 200-meter final at the open national titles in 19.67 seconds, taking 0.02 off Erriyon Knighton's world under-20 mark of 19.69 set at Eugene in 2022.

Knighton also ran a 19.49 in 2022, which World Athletics says is the fastest time ever by an under-20 athlete despite it not being ratified as a world under-20 record.

Gout's time last week placed him abovesprinting great Boltat No. 2 in the all-time under-20 list.

It was the first time that Gout had gone under the 20-second mark officially, after a wind-assisted 19.84 last season, and is the leading time in the world this year. Gout previously had the quickest time by a 16-year-old, setting an Australian record of 20.06 in 2024.

Last Sunday’s mark in Sydney put him ahead ofeight-time Olympic championBolt’s time of 19.93 in 2004. Bolt was 17 when setting what was then a world junior record and never bettered that time as a teenager.

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“This is what I’ve been waiting for,”Gout, who was born in Queensland state to parents from South Sudan, said after his 200-meter win. "There’s a big weight off my shoulders knowing I ran it legally, and I have the speed and my body to run times like that. So, it definitely feels great, and ready for more.”

Gout’s 200 time in Sydney was met with skepticism from several sprinters, mostly in the U.S., who said the record was achieved under questionable wind conditions. Some said that up to seven runners achieved season-best times in the race — although that often happens in national championships.

“There are always going to be haters, if you’ve got haters it means you’re doing something right,” Gout told the Brisbane Times on Friday, referring to the critical comments. “It is what it is, I never take it (to heart), I just keep running, and obviously, it was pretty fast so that’s maybe why they were a bit mad. It motivates me to do it in even bigger races, for sure.”

Gout will go into Saturday's semifinal as a firm favorite.

“I definitely have more in the tank. Last week was a great run, and I’m hoping to keep the same" in Brisbane, he said. “Hopefully, the wind stays pretty calm, and anything’s possible. It was a good run, definitely saved myself for finals. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

Gout has indicated that he will skip the Commonwealth Games, which begin in Glasgow on July 23, to focus on the world under-20 championships in Eugene, Oregon from Aug. 5-9.

Brisbane is hosting the2032 Olympics, where Gout is likely to be in his prime as a sprinter and could become the star of the Games. He grew up nearby in Ipswich, where he completed high school late last year.

AP sports:https://apnews.com/hub/sports

byLiam Oneel

in

April 17, 2026

Gout qualifies fastest for 100 at Australian junior titles after winning the 200 impressively

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Star teenager Gout Gout has qualified fastest for Saturday's 100-meter semifinals at the Australian juni...

Read More