One of the biggest shows of the spring finally got a precise release date: The Last of Us Season 2 is coming to HBO and Max on Sunday, April 13th at 9 PM ET. Based on Naughty Dog’s acclaimed PlayStation videogame, the series will see Craig Mazin and Neil Druckman back as showrunners for a grim second chapter.
For those out of the loop, The Last of Us takes place in a world where a mass fungal infection has turned America into a post-apocalyptic nightmare populated by murderous mushroom zombies and desperate survivors. The first season followed Joel (Pedro Pascal), a gruff smuggler, and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a spunky teenager, as the two went on a cross-country mission with massive implications. In Season 2, events pick up five years later as these characters head down a grisly and unexpected path.
Beyond Pascal and Ramsey returning to their roles as Joel and Ellie, Gabriel Luna will be back as Joel’s brother, Tommy, and Rutina Wesley will reprise her role as Maria. Newcomers to the cast include Kaitlyn Denver as Abby, a central figure in this next chapter, alongside Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, and Ariela Barer as Mel. Sony Pictures Television will once again co-produce the series.
The series’ first season came out back in January of 2023 to critical praise and millions of viewers, eventually becoming HBO’s most-watched debut season. It is already slated for a third season that will adapt the rest of The Last of Us: Part II, the second and (currently) final videogame in the franchise. While the game Season 2 is adapting met a generally positive critical reception and sold quite well, it received backlash from certain players for storytelling decisions, culminating in harassment campaigns against the developers and voice cast. It will be interesting to see how these narrative turns land with television audiences, who will hopefully respond in a more well-adjusted manner regardless of how they feel about where the plot goes.
You can view the most recent trailer for the second season below:
