"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 before its release. The latest trailer for Season 2, unveiled at a SXSW panel, has already amassed a staggering 158 million views across various platforms within just three days, according to Warner Brothers Discovery. This remarkable achievement sets a new record for HBO and Max original programming, surpassing previous promotional efforts by a significant margin of 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, captivating both new and returning fans as they eagerly await the next installment. The Season 1 episodes are now averaging around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers for the Season 1 finale in March 2023, as reported by Deadline. This surge in viewership not only reflects the show's growing fanbase but also underscores its status as one of HBO's most successful series in recent years.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

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Season 2 will feature a significant five-year time jump, continuing the journey of Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world that has become even more treacherous. The narrative will delve into their evolving relationship amidst new dangers. Returning stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley will be joined by new cast members including Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright, adding fresh dynamics to the series.

During the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin shared exciting updates, confirming the return of spores, which were absent in Season 1. The trailer hints at this with a scene where Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, encounters an infected releasing spores. Druckmann elaborated on the escalation in Season 2, 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 that while Season 1 introduced tendrils as a new method of infection, Season 2 will explore airborne spores, adding, "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 for the premiere of *The Last of Us* Season 2 on April 13, 2025, available on HBO and HBO Max.