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

The excitement for the second season of *The Last of Us* is palpable, even though it hasn't yet debuted. The latest trailer for Season 2, unveiled at a SXSW panel, has shattered records by amassing over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, as reported by Warner Brothers Discovery. This marks a new high for HBO and Max original content, surpassing previous promotional efforts for the series 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 soar as both new and returning fans eagerly await Season 2. The first season's episodes are now averaging around 32 million viewers domestically across platforms, a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers that tuned in for the Season 1 finale in March 2023, according to Deadline. This surge in viewership underscores the immense anticipation and affection for the series, making it one of HBO's most successful shows in recent times.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

3 Images

Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump and delve deeper into the evolving dynamics between Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world that's become even more perilous. 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 joining the ensemble.

At the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed the return of spores, which were absent in Season 1. The trailer showcased Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, encountering an infected whose breath releases these spores. Druckmann elaborated on the heightened stakes, 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 highlighted the introduction of new infection methods in Season 2, adding, "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 the reintroduction of spores, explaining, "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 an even more thrilling continuation of this gripping saga.