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

The buzz around the second season of *The Last of Us* is electrifying even before its debut. The latest trailer, unveiled at a SXSW panel, has smashed records, accumulating over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, according to Warner Brothers Discovery. This marks a new high for HBO and Max original programming, surpassing previous promos for the series by an impressive 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 palpable among both new and veteran fans. Season 1 episodes are now averaging around 32 million viewers across platforms domestically, a significant leap from the 8.2 million same-day viewers the finale drew in March 2023, as reported by Deadline. This surge in viewership speaks volumes about the series' growing appeal and sets the stage for an eagerly awaited continuation.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

3 Images

Season 2 will take a dramatic five-year leap forward, thrusting Joel and Ellie into a world fraught with new perils and internal conflicts. Returning stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley will be joined by an exciting lineup of new cast members, including Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright.

During the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin revealed a significant plot element: the return of spores, which were absent in Season 1. The trailer hints at this with a scene of Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, confronting an infected that emits spores. Druckmann elaborated on the evolution 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 decision to reintroduce spores, emphasizing that it had to serve a dramatic purpose in the storyline.

Mark your calendars for the premiere of *The Last of Us* Season 2, set for April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max.