"The Last of Us Season 2 Trailer Shatters HBO Records Prematurely"

The second season of *The Last of Us* is still on the horizon, but its presence is already creating waves of excitement. The latest trailer for Season 2, unveiled during a SXSW panel, has exploded with over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, as reported by Warner Brothers Discovery. This record-breaking number signifies a new high for HBO and Max original programming, surpassing previous promos for the series 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 for the Season 1 finale in March 2023, according to Deadline. This surge in viewership indicates a fervent anticipation for the next chapter of the story, highlighting the immense success and fan devotion to *The Last of Us*. It's clear that this series is one of HBO's most triumphant in recent times, underscored by these remarkable viewership figures.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

3 Images

Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, continuing the journey of Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world that has become even more perilous and unpredictable. The returning cast includes stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley, with new additions such as Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright.

During the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin announced the return of spores, which were absent from Season 1. The trailer hints at their reintroduction, showing Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, encountering an infected whose breath emits spores. Druckmann elaborated on the escalation in Season 2, 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 also mentioned the new tendrils introduced in Season 1 and the presence of airborne elements teased in the trailer.

Mazin confirmed the spores' return, and Druckmann explained the dramatic necessity for their introduction in Season 2, saying, "The reason [we’re doing it now], I mean, we really wanted to figure it out, and again, everything has to be drama. There had to be a dramatic reason for introducing it now. And there is."

Mark your calendars for the premiere of *The Last of Us* Season 2, set to air on April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max.