- - A 'The Last of Us' Favorite Is Being Recast and Fans Are Crushed

Emy LaCroixDecember 30, 2025 at 2:06 AM

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The Last of Us is losing the actor behind one of its most beloved characters for Season 3. On Dec. 29, Variety reported that Danny Ramirez would be leaving the show before the next season, forcing his character, Manny, to be recast. Though Manny isn't featured heavily in Season 2 (in which he first appears), he was expected to have a much more significant storyline in Season 3.

The character first appeared as a friend of Abby's (played by Kaitlyn Dever) and a former Fireflies militia member, who joins her revenge plot against Pedro Pascal's Joel after he attacked the Firefly hospital to save Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in the HBO Max zombie apocalypse drama. So far, no replacement has been announced.

Fans had a lot to say about the recasting. Some were devastated to lose Ramirez, with one saying, "Danny did a great job, tough to see him go," and another agreeing, "Damn, what a huge loss. He would be excellent in the next season." "Literally their best actor, gone," said another.

Danny Ramirez Leaving 'The Last of Us' CastGetty

Others, who were more critical of the show, were supportive of his decision to step out. "He said I am getting off this sinking ship," one teased, while another added, "Probably bailed because he knows season 3 is DOA." A third said, "What if we recast the entire cast."

When it comes to the replacement, one fan said, "I hope they choose someone who can capture Danny Ramirez’s energy…. consistency is key for immersion." Another suggested, "They should hire the guy that did the Manny performance in the game, he’s a great actor and will probably do it," referring to Alejandro Edda, who was Manny's video game voice actor and also starred in Fear the Walking Dead and Narcos: Mexico.

Why Is Danny Ramirez Leaving The Last of Us?

The actor is leaving the show due to scheduling conflicts with his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which he plays Falcon (aka Joaquin Torres). He first took on the role for the 2021 Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier before reprising it for 2025's Captain America: Brave New World.

Currently, he's working on Avengers: Doomsday as well as an upcoming biopic about artist Jean-Michel Basquiat called Samo Lives. He also has a Scarface reboot in the works.

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Though it's unfortunate that his other projects had to take him away from The Last of Us, Ramirez believes that everything happens for a reason. "I always say that the universe is the best writer, the most efficient writer,” he told AP when he was honored as their 2025 Breakthrough Entertainer.

“I’ve seen people who are given the chance, they’re like, ‘You know what, I’m not ready for it,'" he continued. "I think there’s just something to that leap of faith, that we’re all human, there’s going to be mistakes anyway, then why not just have it be you.”

This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”