The buzz surrounding the upcoming second season of The Last of Us is palpable, even before its premiere. The latest trailer for Season 2, unveiled at a SXSW panel, has smashed records by accumulating over 158 million views across platforms within just three days. Warner Brothers Discovery reports that this is an unprecedented achievement for HBO and Max original content, surpassing the performance of previous show promos by a staggering 160%.

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

— Max (@StreamOnMax) March 8, 2025

The fervor for The Last of Us is not waning; in fact, it's intensifying. Season 1 episodes are currently averaging around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers who tuned in for the Season 1 finale in March 2023, as reported by Deadline. This surge in viewership underscores the show's growing appeal and the eagerness of fans to dive back into the story ahead of Season 2. The series has emerged as one of HBO's most successful in recent times, with the audience's anticipation and affection clearly reflected in these impressive figures.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

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Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, continuing the journey of 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 revealed that spores, which were absent in Season 1, will make a comeback. The trailer hints at this with a scene showing Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, encountering an infected whose breath emits spores. Druckmann elaborated on the escalation of the infected, 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 further explained the introduction of new elements, such as the tendrils from Season 1 and now airborne spores, emphasizing that each addition serves a dramatic purpose.

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