🚨 SCRIPT LEAK EXPOSED: The Last of Us Part III bombshell drops—Bella Ramsey DUMPED as Ellie in massive recast shakeup! 😱 Fans are LOSING IT: Was her non-binary vibe the final nail? Or insider sabotage? Script details will SHOCK you… Who’s the new Ellie? Click NOW before HBO buries this forever! 🔥🧟‍♂️

A sensational rumor has taken social media by storm, claiming that the script for the highly anticipated The Last of Us Part III video game has leaked online, with HBO star Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie reportedly being replaced. The post, which surfaced on Facebook just a day ago, reads: “LATEST NEWS: The script for The Last of Us Part III has leaked, with Bella Ramsey’s role as Ellie being replaced.” Posted by the page “Movie Online,” it has racked up over 1,000 likes, 14 shares, and nearly 700 comments in short order, fueling a firestorm of speculation and schadenfreude among fans.

The claim’s rapid spread highlights the franchise’s enduring grip on pop culture, but it also underscores the blurry lines between the acclaimed PlayStation games developed by Naughty Dog and HBO’s hit adaptation. Bella Ramsey, 22, portrays the tough, guitar-strumming survivor Ellie in the TV series, earning praise for Season 1 but drawing sharp criticism for Season 2’s more mature depiction. Notably, Ramsey isn’t involved in the games—Ellie is voiced and motion-captured by Ashley Johnson, who also appeared briefly in the show. This mix-up in the rumor suggests either confusion or deliberate bait, tapping into long-simmering debates over casting fidelity to the source material.

As of January 18, 2026, no credible evidence supports the leak. Neither Naughty Dog, HBO, co-creator Neil Druckmann, nor PlayStation has acknowledged any script breach for Part III. Searches across major outlets like IGN, Kotaku, and GameSpot yield zero confirmations, with the only hits looping back to the same Facebook post and a linked clickbait site, yournewsupdate.com. Comments on the post revel in anti-Ramsey sentiment: “So the world is healing?” one user quipped, while others mocked her appearance with barbs like “replaced by a carrot” or “HEY YOU GUYS monster from The Goonies.” No users cited scripts or sources; it’s pure fan catharsis.

This isn’t the first time The Last of Us has been plagued by leaks—Part II‘s plot spoiled months early in 2020—but those were verified. Here, the rumor rides a wave of discontent. Ramsey’s non-binary identity and youthful look have polarized viewers since her 2023 casting reveal. Season 2, which wrapped production in 2025, amplified gripes as Ellie’s arc demanded a more rugged, aged-up presence. AI-generated “recasts” with game-accurate faces have gone viral on X, with one clip claiming Ramsey’s version lacks expressions. X posts lament: “Worst casting ever. Ellie was actually beautiful in the game.”

Yet, Ramsey remains firmly attached. Just days ago, at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, she told The Hollywood Reporter she’d read Season 3 scripts: “Yes, and I’ve just seen them. I’m really bad at reading things. Takes me a long time.” HBO’s adaptation, renewed through Season 3, adapts Part II‘s latter half, with Kaitlyn Dever as Abby and Isabela Merced as Dina. Production ramps up soon, eyeing a 2027 premiere. A real recast hit elsewhere: Danny Ramirez exits Manny due to scheduling, prompting backlash but no Ellie shakeup.

Shifting to the game, Part III simmers in “early production.” Druckmann, Naughty Dog’s head, confirmed a story concept in 2023 but urged fans: “Don’t bet” on it happening. In September 2025, he revealed debates over jumping straight from Part II (2020) but opted for other projects like a rumored Intergalactic: Bounty Hunter. Actor Jeffrey Pierce (Tommy) noted script work underway, but no leaks surfaced. Past “leaks”—2022 outline rumors, 2025 antagonist teases—proved speculative.

Druckmann’s X feed (@Neil_Druckmann) stays mum on Part III, focusing on the show’s success—Season 1 drew 30 million viewers. The franchise’s $1 billion+ empire spans games (over 37 million sold), HBO (Emmys galore), and merch. But toxicity lingers: Part II‘s leaks sparked death threats; Ramsey faces online harassment over gender and looks.

Why explode now? Timing aligns with Critics Choice buzz and Season 3 hype. Ramsey’s “dark bombshell” tease—”scripts are ready”—sparked spirals. Fans crave closure on Ellie’s arc post-Part II‘s divisive ending. Rumors of Abby focus or new leads fuel recast chatter. X vents: “Recast needed… out of her depth.”

Naughty Dog prioritizes quality—Part II took five years amid controversy. HBO shields talent; recasts like Manny’s are logistical, not punitive. If real, a Ramsey pivot would echo Willow‘s Warwick Davis successor or Fresh Prince‘s Aunt Viv—jarring but survivable.

Skeptics call it FB farm: Pages like Movie Online thrive on outrage. The linked site promises “details,” but mirrors the post—no proof. X lacks traction; semantic searches yield nada on replacements.

As Part III looms undefined—2028 earliest?—this “leak” exposes fault lines: fidelity vs. diversity, games vs. show. Ramsey, post-Game of Thrones and Catherine Called Birdy, eyes Oscars; her Ellie endures despite hate. Druckmann champions her: Season 2’s finale cliffhanger sets up S3 fireworks.

Until Naughty Dog tweets or HBO sues leakers, treat as vaporware. But in a post-truth net, one post can sway narratives. Fans, divided as ever, await the clickbait cure: official word. Will Ellie evolve, or echo Joel’s fate? The infected hordes press on.