Prepare to re-enter the intense world of HBO's The Last of Us. Last year, the show made waves with its innovative take on video game adaptations. The premiere drew the second-largest audience for an HBO debut. Season one garnered eight Primetime Emmy Awards out of 24 nominations and was praised for its performances, worldbuilding, and visual presentation. Given its success, it's no surprise the show is returning.
The first season ended with Joel rescuing Ellie from the Fireflies, thwarting their attempt to develop a Cordyceps cure through surgery. He brought her to Jackson, Wyoming, where his brother Tommy lives. Years later, they've settled into the community.
Now, with season two officially confirmed and a teaser released, excitement is at an all-time high. Following the House of the Dragon season two finale, HBO showcased a thrilling preview of Joel and Ellie’s next chapter, highlighting key moments from The Last of Us Part II. As more details emerge, stay tuned for the latest updates on the plot, cast, and everything else you need to know.
The Last of Us season two is scheduled to premiere on HBO and Max in 2025.
In an inteview with Deadline, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content, said that the release window for season two in 2025 is "generally first half of the year," and that he expects them (also The White Lotus) "to be in the Emmy window." This means we could get the series before the end of May 2025. He also added, "I've seen Last of Us. I think everybody is going to love what [co-creator] Craig [Mazin] is doing. White Lotus I haven't seen anything yet, but I went to visit. Obviously, I've seen dailies and read scripts, so high hopes for both of them."
The show's genres are action, adventure, drama, horror, sci-fi, and thriller.
Season two of The Last of Us will adapt the events from the game The Last of Us Part II, which takes place five years after the first game. In this sequel, Ellie and Joel have found some peace in Wyoming, living among survivors, but their tranquility is shattered by a violent incident and the arrival of Abby, a soldier from a militia group in Seattle.
The new installment will continue exploring themes from the game, focusing on the shift from unconditional love to the pursuit of justice and revenge. Showrunners Mazin and Druckmann aim to delve deeper into these complex emotions, reflecting the intense and emotional journey of the characters.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Craig Mazin hinted that, like the first season, there will be changes to the story. "Sometimes it will be radically different, and sometimes it will be barely different at all," he said. "But it will be different and its own thing. It won't be exactly like the game. It will be the show that Neil and I want to make.”
Other cast members include:
HBO has released an official “TLOU Day” teaser in celebration of “The Last of Us Day.” Check it out below:
Though brief, the scenes in the first teaser pack a punch. We see Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Catherine O'Hara's mysterious character, Jeffrey Wright reprising Isaac, and Isabela Merced as Dina. We also see Joel grappling with his pivotal decision from season one.
In one scene, O'Hara's character asks Joel (Pascal), "Did you hurt her?" As Joel whispers, "No," we see Ellie (Bella Ramsey) screaming on a gurney and Tommy (Gabriel Luna) using a sniper to fend off infected attackers. There are intense gunfights, with Jeffrey Wright's character and Ellie turning their weapons on unknown enemies. The clip concludes with Joel tearfully telling O'Hara's character, "I saved her.”
Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann revealed that season two of The Last of Us will be shorter, with just seven episodes, due to the extensive source material from Part II of the game. They’ve planned for a third season, as the story requires more depth than season one. Mazin assured fans that despite the shorter season, each episode will be crafted to feel like a blockbuster, with one episode notably longer than the rest.
Season two of The Last of Us is filming in British Columbia, including Vancouver, Kamloops, and Mission. Production began on Feb. 12, 2024, and is expected to wrap by Aug. 21, 2024. Locations include Downtown Eastside (for a post-apocalyptic Seattle), Britannia Beach, and various sites in Calgary and Alberta. Filming has been affected by delays but is progressing, with notable scenes shot in Nanaimo and Vancouver.
Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann remain as showrunners and executive producers for HBO's The Last of Us. Both will also direct episodes in season two. Joining them are directors Peter Hoar (Season 1's "Long, Long Time"), Mark Mylod (Succession), Nina Lopez-Corrado (Perry Mason), Stephen Williams (Watchmen), and Kate Herron (Loki).
Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the co-creators and showrunners of HBO's The Last of Us, have confirmed plans for at least four seasons. Season two, debuting in 2025, will consist of seven episodes, but the story will likely continue into a third and potentially a fourth season.
Mazin noted that the show's narrative will evolve significantly, potentially extending beyond four seasons. Although a third game is not confirmed, the series will maintain its rich storytelling, with each episode carefully crafted to advance the plot.