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

The buzz surrounding the second season of *The Last of Us* is palpable even before its release. The latest trailer for Season 2, unveiled during a SXSW panel, has shattered records by amassing over 158 million views across various platforms within just three days. According to Warner Brothers Discovery, this achievement marks a new high for HBO and Max original content, surpassing previous promotional videos for the series by a staggering 160%.

You can’t stop this.#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/DH8UzAugIV

— Max (@StreamOnMax) March 8, 2025

The fervor for *The Last of Us* continues to grow as both new and returning fans eagerly await Season 2. The first season has seen an impressive average of about 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically, a significant increase from the 8.2 million who tuned in for the Season 1 finale on the same day in March 2023, as reported by Deadline. This surge in viewership highlights the immense popularity and anticipation surrounding the series, cementing its status 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, delving deeper into the tumultuous journey of Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world that has become even more perilous and unpredictable. Familiar faces such as Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley will reprise their roles, joined by new cast members including Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright.

At the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin revealed exciting developments for the upcoming season. They confirmed the return of spores, which were absent in Season 1, and hinted at an escalation in the number and types of infected, as well as the introduction of new vectors for the spread of the infection. Druckmann noted, "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, "spores are back," and Druckmann added that the inclusion was driven by dramatic necessity, stating, "There had to be a dramatic reason for introducing it now. And there is."

Mark your calendars: *The Last of Us* Season 2 premieres on April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max. The anticipation is high, and the excitement is real as fans gear up for another thrilling chapter in this gripping saga.