The excitement for the second season of *The Last of Us* is palpable, with anticipation building even before its release. The latest trailer, unveiled during a SXSW panel, has shattered records, amassing over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, as reported by Warner Brothers Discovery. This remarkable feat marks a new high for HBO and Max original programming, surpassing previous promotional content by an impressive 160%.
You can’t stop this.
— Max (@StreamOnMax) March 8, 2025
#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/DH8UzAugIV
The show's popularity continues to soar, drawing both new and returning fans eagerly awaiting Season 2. The first season's episodes are averaging around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers that tuned in for the Season 1 finale in March 2023, according to Deadline. This surge in viewership underscores the immense appeal and success of the series, positioning it as one of HBO's standout hits in recent times.
The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters
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Season 2 will feature a significant five-year time jump, thrusting Joel and Ellie into a new chapter fraught with internal conflicts and an increasingly perilous world. The returning cast, including Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley, will be joined by notable new additions such as Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright.
During the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin revealed that spores, absent in Season 1, will make a comeback. The trailer hinted at this with a scene showing Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, observing an infected whose breath emits spores. Druckmann elaborated on the heightened stakes, saying, "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, including the tendrils from Season 1 and airborne threats teased in the trailer. Mazin confirmed the return of spores, noting that their inclusion in Season 2 serves a crucial dramatic purpose.
*The Last of Us* Season 2 is set to premiere on April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max, promising fans an enthralling continuation of this gripping saga.
