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

The excitement for the upcoming second season of The Last of Us is palpable, even though it hasn't debuted yet. The show's latest trailer for Season 2, unveiled during a SXSW panel, has shattered records by amassing over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, as reported by Warner Brothers Discovery. This is a monumental achievement for HBO and Max original programming, with the trailer outperforming previous promos by an impressive "at least 160%".

You can’t stop this.
#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/DH8UzAugIV

— Max (@StreamOnMax) March 8, 2025

The anticipation for Season 2 is evident as both new and returning fans eagerly await its release. The Season 1 episodes are currently averaging around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the finale's 8.2 million same-day viewers in March 2023, according to Deadline. This surge in viewership highlights the show's massive appeal and the excitement surrounding the next chapter of the story. It's clear that The Last of Us is one of HBO's most successful series in recent years, and the numbers reflect the widespread anticipation and adoration for the show.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

3 Images

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

During the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin announced the return of spores, which were absent in Season 1. The trailer gives a glimpse of this with Bella Ramsey's Ellie encountering an infected whose breath releases the 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 highlighted the introduction of new elements not present in the game, such as the tendrils in Season 1, and teased the spores seen in the trailer. Mazin confirmed the spores' return, and Druckmann explained the decision was driven by dramatic necessity, saying, "Everything has to be drama. There had to be a dramatic reason for introducing it now. And there is."

The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere on April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max, promising fans an even more thrilling continuation of the beloved series.