The Last of Us Season 3 Casts Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter as Yara and Lev: A Look at the New Additions to the Post-Apocalyptic World
The upcoming third season of The Last of Us has announced the casting of Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter as series regulars playing the roles of Yara and Lev, respectively. Yara and Lev are siblings and key characters from the second game, with Lev being a significant part of Abby Anderson's storyline. Lev is a 13-year-old transgender boy who serves as Abby's partner and moral compass in the post-apocalyptic world.
The character of Lev, portrayed by Kratter, undergoes a transformation from being born a girl named Lily with gender dysphoria to embracing his true identity as a boy named Lev. This change occurs after being assigned to become a wife of an Elder and denied the opportunity to become a soldier like his older sister Yara, played by Mao. The casting of Kratter for the role was the result of an inclusive audition process that sought young performers from diverse backgrounds.
The cast of The Last of Us Season 3 includes returning stars such as Kaitlyn Dever, Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, Gabriel Luna, and Jeffrey Wright, along with new additions like Clea DuVall and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. The series is co-created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, with Mazin serving as the sole showrunner for the upcoming season. Kratter's previous work includes roles in Disney+’s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Disney Channel’s Bunk’d, while Mao recently appeared in Netflix’s Bridgerton and director Kogonada’s feature Zi.
In conclusion, the casting of Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter as Yara and Lev in The Last of Us Season 3 adds depth to the post-apocalyptic world of the series. Their portrayals of these key characters are expected to bring new dimensions to the storyline and further engage viewers in the upcoming season.