The Last of Us Season 2 Trailer Breaks HBO Records Nearly a Month Before It Begins

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, exceeding previous promotional views by at least 160%, according to Warner Brothers Discovery. This staggering number reflects the show's burgeoning popularity, attracting both established fans and newcomers. Season 1 episodes average approximately 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers its finale garnered in March 2023. This surge underscores the series' immense success and the fervent anticipation for its continuation.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

Season 2 will jump forward five years, depicting Joel and Ellie's struggle against each other and a more dangerous, unpredictable world. Returning stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley are 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 key element absent from Season 1. The trailer hints at their reintroduction, showing Ellie encountering an infected whose breath releases spores. Druckmann explained an escalation in the number and types of infected, along with a shift in the infection's spread. He highlighted the new tendrils from Season 1 as one method, contrasting it with the airborne spores shown in the trailer. Mazin confirmed the spores' return, with Druckmann emphasizing the dramatic narrative necessity for their inclusion in Season 2.

The Last of Us Season 2 premieres April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max.