The anticipation for The Last of Us Season 2 is palpable, even before its premiere. The recently released trailer, unveiled at SXSW, has already amassed over 158 million views across platforms in just three days—a record for HBO and Max original programming, surpassing previous promotional material by at least 160%, according to Warner Brothers Discovery. This phenomenal viewership demonstrates the show's burgeoning popularity, attracting both established fans and new viewers. While Season 1 episodes average around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically (a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers for the Season 1 finale), this trailer's performance underscores the series' immense success and widespread anticipation. It's undeniably one of HBO's most successful shows in recent years.
The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters
Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, depicting Joel and Ellie entangled in conflict with each other and a more perilous, unpredictable world. Returning stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley will be joined by newcomers Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright.
At the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed the return of spores, a notable omission from Season 1. The trailer hints at their reintroduction, showcasing Ellie witnessing an infected releasing spores. Druckmann explained an "escalation of numbers and types of infected," and a change in the infection's vector. He highlighted the difference between the tendrils from Season 1 and the airborne spores shown in the trailer. Mazin confirmed the spores' return, with Druckmann emphasizing the dramatic necessity of their introduction at this point in the narrative.
The Last of Us Season 2 premieres April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max.
