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

The anticipation for the second season of The Last of Us is palpable, even though it hasn't arrived yet. Its impact is already significant, as evidenced by the latest Season 2 trailer released during a SXSW panel. According to Warner Brothers Discovery, this trailer has amassed over 158 million views across various platforms in just three days, setting a record for HBO and Max original programming. The streamer reports that this trailer has surpassed previous show promos 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 grow, with both new and returning fans eagerly awaiting Season 2. The first season's episodes are averaging around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the finale's 8.2 million same-day viewers across platforms in March 2023, as reported by Deadline. This surge in viewership underscores the immense popularity and success of the series, which is among HBO's most successful in recent years. The enthusiasm and affection for the show are clear, given these impressive numbers.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

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Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, following Joel and Ellie as they navigate conflicts with each other and a world that's become even more perilous and unpredictable. Returning stars include Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley, with new cast members Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright joining the fray.

At the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin revealed the return of spores, which were absent from Season 1. The trailer hints at this with a scene showing Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, observing an infected releasing spores through its breath.

Druckmann commented on the escalation of infected numbers and types, as well as the spread of the infection, stating, "Season 1, we had this new thing that wasn’t in the game of these tendrils that spread, and that was one form. And then one shot you see in this trailer, there are things in the air." Mazin confirmed, "spores are back," and Druckmann added, "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 of introducing it now. And there is."

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