Jackson Settlement

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Lore & Background

The settlement is home to several key figures. Jesse, played by Young Mazino in the HBO series, is a leader in Jackson whose selflessness sometimes comes at a cost; he values its sense of community and works hard to ensure it is not lost. He is Dina's ex. Tommy Miller, Joel's younger brother and a former member of the revolutionary group Fireflies, maintains idealism in hoping for a better world. Gabriel Luna, who plays Tommy, found the shift in the second season interesting as his character "becomes kind of like the boogeyman to these other people" after being a hero for the first season. Dina, played by Shannon Woodward in the game and by Isabela Merced in the HBO series, is Ellie's girlfriend and Jesse's ex; she is a freewheeling spirit with a loyalty towards Ellie, which is challenged by the world's brutality.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the walls smells of woodsmoke and fresh bread, a stark contrast to the rotting silence outside. Joel walks the perimeter as the sun dips below the peaks, his boots crunching on gravel that hasn't seen rain in weeks. From the watchtower, Maria waves him down; she's holding a basket of apples from the orchard, her smile warm against the cooling dusk. Inside the gate, children laugh near the playground, their voices echoing off the stone walls—a sound so foreign to Joel it almost hurts. Here, amidst the ruins of the old world, life is not just surviving; it is growing.

Reader's Guide

Jackson stands as one of the few functional societies left in North America, located deep within the Wyoming mountains. Its success stems from a unique blend of military discipline and communal farming. The settlement is enclosed by high walls and guarded by patrols to keep out both infected hordes and hostile human groups. Life inside revolves around shared responsibility. Residents work on farms, in workshops, or as guards, contributing directly to the community's survival. There are no currency systems; instead, goods and services are traded based on need and contribution. Education is a priority, with schools operating within the walls to teach children reading, math, and history. The leadership structure evolved from a solitary command to a council system under Joel and Maria. This shift allowed for more balanced decision-making and long-term planning. Jackson remains a symbol of what humanity can achieve when it chooses cooperation over conflict, offering a glimpse of a future where civilization might truly be restored.

Did You Know?

• The second season was renewed by HBO in January 2023; no third season renewal date is canonically established.
• Co-showrunner Neil Druckmann has not stepped away from the series; no canonical source confirms this event.
• Principal photography for the second season began in early 2024, under the working title Calm Current.
• Manny is played by Alejandro Edda in the game; no recasting of Manny for the HBO series has been canonically confirmed.
• A large casting call was held for the role of Lev, featuring actors of several backgrounds.

Production Context and Renewal

The third season of the series was officially renewed by HBO on April 9, 2025, several days before the premiere of the second season. Co-showrunner Neil Druckmann stepped away from his creative duties on the series in July 2025 to focus on his work at Naughty Dog, primarily Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet; Craig Mazin remained as sole showrunner. Mazin directed the premiere to set the tone, inspired by Noah Hawley's work on Fargo. Other directors include Andrew Bernstein, Hiromi Kamata, Vincenzo Natali, and David Petrarca. Principal photography began in British Columbia on March 2, 2026, and is set to conclude in November. The series is a production of Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Naughty Dog, the Mighty Mint, and Word Games, with Mazin, Druckmann, Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O'Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells returning as executive producers. Halley Gross was named an executive producer in May 2025. HBO's Casey Bloys indicated that the season would likely be the last.

Narrative Shifts and Revenge Themes

The season adapts the second half of the 2020 video game The Last of Us Part II, set twenty-five years into a fungal pandemic that has collapsed society. Unlike previous installments, this narrative focuses heavily on Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, who is a soldier within the Washington Liberation Front in Seattle. Her worldview undergoes significant challenges after she attains revenge for her father's death at the hands of Joel. Meanwhile, Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, remains immune to the Cordyceps infection and is seeking revenge for the murder of Joel, though her role is smaller due to the perspective shift. The story explores themes of brutality and loyalty, particularly through Dina, whose commitment to Ellie is challenged by the world's brutality. The series shifted to Abby's perspective in the second-season finale; the third season follows her story, as well as those of the characters around her, like Manny and Isaac. Mazin thought the change was risky but felt HBO executives "understand that this show is going to be a different show every season".

Jackson Leadership and Character Ties

Several key characters maintain ties to Jackson Settlement despite the primary setting shifting to Seattle. Young Mazino portrays Jesse, a leader in Jackson whose selflessness sometimes comes at a cost; he values its sense of community and works hard to ensure it is not lost. He is identified as Dina's ex. Gabriel Luna returns as Tommy Miller, Joel's younger brother and former Firefly member, who maintains idealism about a better world. Luna noted that Tommy "becomes kind of like the boogeyman to these other people" after being a hero for the first two seasons. Isabela Merced plays Dina, Ellie's girlfriend and Jesse's ex, described as a freewheeling spirit whose loyalty is challenged by global brutality. These characters provide continuity with the established community dynamics while navigating the conflict between the WLF and other factions during this season of production.

Casting Changes and Ensemble Roles

The casting process involved significant changes to accommodate the new narrative focus and scheduling realities. Kaitlyn Dever was told of the shift to Abby's perspective when she got the role for the second season. Danny Ramirez, who played Manny in the second season, departed the role in December 2025 due to scheduling conflicts, recast with Jorge Lendeborg Jr. in February 2026. Jeffrey Wright reprises his role as Isaac Dixon, the ruthless leader of the WLF and a former high-ranking sergeant for FEDRA. New additions include Patrick Wilson as Abby's father Jerry and Peter Sarsgaard as Amon, a leader of the Seraphites. Background performers were sought to portray various tradespeople like archers, blacksmiths, chandlers, farriers, and potters between May and July 2026. The ensemble also features Spencer Lord as Owen and Tati Gabrielle as Nora, both former Fireflies now integrated into the WLF military structure within the show's universe.