Li Jun Li, the breakout star of Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning vampire drama “Sinners,” has joined the cast of HBO’s “The Last of Us” Season 3 as Miriam, the mother of Seraphite siblings Lev and Yara, according to exclusive reporting by Variety.
Her casting adds a pivotal new layer to the show’s adaptation of “The Last of Us Part II,” as Miriam — though unnamed in the original video game — plays a critical role in shaping the estranged relationship between Lev and Yara. Sources confirm she is a devout Seraphite who disowned Lev upon learning of his transgender identity, a decision that fractures the family and pushes the siblings toward Abby’s orbit in Seattle.
Li joins a rapidly expanding ensemble that includes Jason Ritter as Hanley, Patrick Wilson as Jerry, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. Taking over the role of Manny. Meanwhile, returning stars Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Kaitlyn Dever (Abby), and Gabriel Luna (Tommy) are set to reprise their roles, with Craig Mazin now serving as sole showrunner following Neil Druckmann’s departure ahead of production.
The role marks a significant departure from Li’s recent acclaim as Grace Chow in “Sinners,” where she portrayed a compassionate shopkeeper caught in a supernatural turf war. In contrast, Miriam is portrayed as rigid and ideologically unyielding — a figure whose faith-driven actions catalyze the siblings’ alienation and eventual alliance with Abby.
For more on this story, see Overwatch Season 2: New Hero Sierra and Update Details.
Li’s upcoming slate also includes a leading role as Cat Hardy in “Spider-Noir,” the Prime Video and MGM+ series starring Nicolas Cage, which is slated for a global premiere on May 27. Her representatives confirmed she is represented by Gersh, Authentic, attorneys Karl Austen and Andrew Howard, and Persona PR.
Production on “The Last of Us” Season 3 is expected to begin this summer, though HBO has not yet announced a release date. The series remains a co-production between HBO and Sony Pictures Television, with executive producers including Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells. PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog are credited as producers.
How does Miriam’s role change the story from the game?
In the game, Lev and Yara’s backstory with their mother is implied through dialogue and environmental storytelling, but her character is never seen or named. By casting Li Jun Li as Miriam, the show gains the ability to dramatize the ideological rupture that drove the siblings apart — showing, rather than telling, how faith and intolerance fractured their family.
Why is Li Jun Li’s casting significant for the show’s direction?
Her casting signals that Season 3 will devote more screen time to the Seraphite community and the internal conflicts within it, potentially expanding beyond the game’s linear narrative to explore the cultural and religious forces that shaped Abby’s allies — a shift that could deepen the show’s thematic exploration of belief, identity, and survival in a collapsed world.
