Overview
- An HBO representative confirmed that Danny Ramirez will not return and that Manny will be recast for Season 3 due to scheduling conflicts.
- Industry coverage notes Ramirez’s expanding film slate, including Marvel projects like Avengers: Doomsday, as a likely factor, though that linkage remains reported rather than confirmed.
- Season 3 is planned to shift the series’ perspective to Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, increasing Manny’s significance compared with Season 2, where Ramirez appeared in four episodes.
- Neil Druckmann has stepped back from writing and directing for the new season, leaving co-creator Craig Mazin as the sole showrunner.
- Casting for Season 3 is active, with filming widely expected in 2026 and HBO leadership pointing to a 2027 premiere window.