The Last of Us Season 2 Trailer Breaks HBO Records Nearly a Month Before It Begins

The anticipation for The Last of Us Season 2 is palpable, even before its premiere. The recently released trailer, unveiled at SXSW, has already amassed over 158 million views across platforms in just three days—a record for HBO and Max original programming, exceeding previous promotional views by at least 160%, according to Warner Brothers Discovery. This staggering viewership underscores the show's growing popularity, attracting both established fans and newcomers. While Season 1 episodes average around 32 million cross-platform viewers domestically (a significant increase from the 8.2 million same-day viewers for the Season 1 finale), this trailer's impact highlights the series' immense reach and success.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, following Joel and Ellie as they navigate a more dangerous and unpredictable world, facing conflict with each other. Returning stars include Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley, joined by newcomers Kaitlyn Dever, Isabella Merced, Catherine O’Hara, and Jeffrey Wright.

At the SXSW panel, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed the return of spores, a notable element absent from Season 1. The trailer hints at their reintroduction, showcasing Ellie encountering an infected whose breath releases spores. Druckmann explained an escalation in the number and types of infected, and in the spread mechanism itself, contrasting the tendrils from Season 1 with the airborne spores shown in the trailer. Mazin confirmed the spores' return, with Druckmann emphasizing the dramatic necessity of their introduction at this point in the narrative.

The Last of Us Season 2 premieres April 13, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max.