🚨 BREAKING HBO SHOCKER – After Toxic Backlash Over ‘Woke’ Season 2, The Last of Us DUMPS a Major Abby Ally & RECASTS Him for Season 3! 🚨

Season 2’s brutal twists, pride flags, and Ellie drama already had fans RAGING… now they’re recasting MANNY – Danny Ramirez’s tough Firefly bro who stood by Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby through hell.

Scheduling clash with Marvel? Or deeper production chaos? Fans are FUMING: “Massive loss!” as Seasons 2 & 3 overlap in the game’s bloody timeline.

Will the new guy ruin Abby’s revenge arc? Or save the show from more review-bombing meltdowns?

Drop it below & tag a TLOU die-hard – this drama’s just heating up! 👇💥🧟‍♂️

HBO’s post-apocalyptic juggernaut The Last of Us is shaking up its cast once again. Danny Ramirez, who portrayed Manny Alvarez in Season 2, will not return for the upcoming third season due to scheduling conflicts, with producers confirming the role will be recast. The announcement, first reported by Deadline and Variety on December 30, 2025, comes amid lingering backlash from a polarizing second season that drew accusations of “woke” deviations from the source video game.

Manny, a loyal Firefly fighter and close ally to Abby Anderson (Kaitlyn Dever), appeared in four episodes of Season 2, supporting her quest for vengeance in a ravaged Seattle. In Naughty Dog’s 2020 game The Last of Us Part II, Manny is a key supporting character during Abby’s playable sections, providing comic relief and camaraderie amid brutal violence. His recasting is particularly awkward given that Seasons 2 and 3 are expected to overlap significantly in timeline—both covering the same intense three-day span from different perspectives—making visual continuity a challenge.

The move stems from Ramirez’s burgeoning Marvel commitments. The 28-year-old actor, fresh off roles in Top Gun: Maverick and The Tomorrow War, is set to reprise Joaquin Torres—the new Captain America/Falcon—in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, directed by the Russo brothers. Filming schedules for such blockbusters often clash with TV productions, a common issue in Hollywood’s crowded slate. HBO sources emphasized that Manny remains a vital part of the story, signaling no plans to write him out.

Fan reactions have been swift and split. On Reddit’s r/thelastofus, the news post garnered over 1,100 upvotes and hundreds of comments, with many decrying it as “sloppy” and a “massive loss.” Users lamented the lack of back-to-back filming for Seasons 2 and 3, arguing it wasted resources on sets and costumes for a role that must now be rebooted. “This is an awful project for recasting as both seasons take place at the same time,” one top comment read, echoing broader gripes about production foresight. Others were more pragmatic, noting Manny’s limited screen time in Season 2 and hoping for a recast closer to the game’s portrayal by voice actor Alejandro Edda.

This isn’t the first casting hiccup for the series. Season 2 itself ignited firestorms over Bella Ramsey’s return as Ellie, with detractors arguing the non-binary actor didn’t convincingly age from a 14-year-old to a hardened 19-year-old, calling for a recast that never came. The season, which premiered in April 2025, adapted Part II with contentious changes: expanded “woke” elements like pride murals, Ellie’s quip “I’m gonna be a dad” upon learning of Dina’s pregnancy, and softened portrayals of Abby that some fans said undermined the game’s shocking golf club scene. Review-bombing hit Rotten Tomatoes hard, dropping audience scores amid cries of “political agendas” and “homophobic” labels from outlets like Out.com, which framed backlash as toxic trolling.

Despite the noise, Season 2 drew strong viewership, topping HBO charts and earning critical acclaim (90%+ on Rotten Tomatoes from top critics). Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann defended deviations in Variety interviews, prioritizing emotional depth over fidelity. “We’re not concerned about potential backlash,” Druckmann said pre-premiere. Mazin teased Season 3 as a “longer and larger” 10-12 episode arc, revisiting Seattle from Abby’s view while delving into Seraphite origins, Isaac’s (Jeffrey Wright) motives, and explosive cliffhangers.

Production on Season 3 ramps up soon. Renewed in April 2025 before Season 2’s debut, filming is slated for early 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia—possibly as soon as January or March, per conflicting reports from Production List and Hollywood North Buzz. Returning stars include Pedro Pascal (Joel, via flashbacks), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Dever (Abby), Isabela Merced (Dina), and Wright. Druckmann steps back from writing and directing episodes but stays as co-creator/exec producer, leaving Mazin to helm creatively.

The original HBO series, launched in January 2023, was a smash—Season 1 averaged 30 million viewers per episode, winning eight Emmys including Outstanding Drama Series. Adapting Naughty Dog’s games, it follows immune teen Ellie and smuggler Joel through a Cordyceps-ravaged world. Season 2 shifted to Part II‘s dual narratives, killing off Joel early (to Pedro Pascal’s dismay) and humanizing Abby, sparking “go woke, go broke” memes from conservative corners.

Critics lauded the action and performances—Dever’s Abby earned buzz—but purists fumed over “bastardized” arcs, like Ellie’s softened trauma and reshot fights diluting violence. X (formerly Twitter) lit up with rants: “Season 2 was a lesbian armpit-kissing nightmare,” one viral post griped, amplifying game faithfuls’ woes.

Mazin remains bullish: “We haven’t seen the last of… a lot of people who are currently dead.” The recast tests that optimism—Manny’s return is crucial for Abby’s faction dynamics—but could refresh a role fans called underdeveloped.

As HBO eyes a 2027 premiere, the Manny switch underscores streaming’s high-wire act: balancing game lore, star egos, and rabid fandoms. Season 2’s controversies boosted discourse but dented buzz; Season 3’s success may hinge on nailing recasts and redemptions. For now, speculation swirls: Who steps into Manny’s boots? A game alum like Edda? Or fresh blood to sidestep more bombs?

The Last of Us Seasons 1-2 stream on Max. Season 3 production updates expected soon