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 phenomenal response underscores the show's growing popularity, with Season 1 episodes averaging approximately 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically. This is a significant increase compared to the Season 1 finale's impressive 8.2 million same-day viewers across platforms (Deadline). Clearly, fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter, fueling a surge in viewership that highlights the show's immense success and widespread appeal.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, depicting Joel and Ellie facing new conflicts and a more perilous world. Returning stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley will be 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 notable element absent from Season 1. The trailer hints at this reintroduction, showcasing Ellie encountering an infected whose breath releases spores. Druckmann explained an "escalation of numbers and types of infected," along with a change in the infection vector. He highlighted the difference between the tendrils featured in Season 1 and the airborne spores shown in the Season 2 trailer. Mazin confirmed the spores' return, with Druckmann emphasizing the dramatic necessity of their introduction at this point in the narrative.

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