The anticipation for the second season of *The Last of Us* is palpable, even before its release. The excitement reached new heights with the latest trailer for Season 2, unveiled at a SXSW panel, which amassed over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, according to Warner Brothers Discovery. This impressive figure not only set a record for HBO and Max original programming but also surpassed previous promotional trailers for the show by at least 160%.
You can’t stop this.#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/DH8UzAugIV
— Max (@StreamOnMax) March 8, 2025
The show's popularity continues to soar as both new and returning fans eagerly await Season 2. The episodes from Season 1 are now averaging around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers the Season 1 finale attracted in March 2023, as reported by Deadline. This substantial growth in viewership highlights the immense success and anticipation surrounding the series, establishing it as one of HBO's most successful shows in recent years.
The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters
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Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, continuing the journey of Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world that's even more perilous and unpredictable. Returning stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley will be joined by new cast members Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright, adding depth to the already compelling narrative.
During the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin revealed that spores, which were absent in Season 1, will make a return. The trailer hints at this with a scene showing Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, encountering an infected whose breath releases spores. Druckmann elaborated on the escalation of the infected, stating, "There is an escalation of numbers and types of infected, but also, as you see in the trailer, an escalation of the vector of how this thing spreads." He further explained the introduction of new elements, such as tendrils in Season 1 and now spores in Season 2, emphasizing that each addition serves a dramatic purpose.
Season 2 of *The Last of Us* is set to premiere on April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max, promising fans an even more thrilling and emotionally charged continuation of this beloved series.
