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

The anticipation for the second season of The Last of Us is palpable, as evidenced by the staggering success of its latest trailer. Released during a SXSW panel, the trailer has amassed over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, according to Warner Brothers Discovery. This marks a record-breaking achievement for HBO and Max original programming, surpassing previous promotional content for the show 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 fervor surrounding The Last of Us continues to grow, with both new and returning fans eagerly awaiting Season 2. The first season's episodes are now averaging around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers the finale attracted in March 2023, as reported by Deadline. This surge in viewership underscores the immense popularity and impact of the series, positioning it as one of HBO's most successful shows in recent years.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

3 Images

Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, continuing the journey of Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world that has 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.

During the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin revealed exciting updates about the upcoming season. They confirmed the return of spores, which were absent in Season 1, and teased an escalation in the number and types of infected. Druckmann highlighted the introduction of new vectors for 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 affirmed the spores' return, and Druckmann elaborated on the dramatic necessity of their reintroduction, saying, "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."

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