MOVIE NEWS – The dynamic duo that captivated audiences with their father-daughter chemistry is finally returning—and they’re already making history. The Last of Us Season 2 is fast approaching, set to premiere on April 13. The first season wasn’t just based on a wildly popular Naughty Dog survival horror game; it also brought together the unstoppable duo of Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, along with a powerhouse creative team led by showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin.

The newly released trailer for Season 2 has shattered records, amassing 158 million global views across all platforms in just three days. This makes it the most-watched HBO and Max Original trailer in history within this timeframe. It even outperformed the first season’s trailer, which had garnered nearly 32 million U.S. cross-platform views—an astonishing 160% increase. The Last of Us is such a compelling story of survival that even 28 Days Later writer Alex Garland recently told Neil Druckmann that he considers it better than his own acclaimed apocalyptic film. If that’s not a major stamp of approval, what is?

The The Last of Us Season 2 trailer gives fans a glimpse into the next chapter of Ellie and Joel’s journey. Like the second game, the story picks up five years after the events of the first season. A major addition to the cast is Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby, the controversial character that fans played as in The Last of Us Part II. While some unimaginative fans have voiced complaints about her casting, anticipation for the second season remains sky-high. You can watch the viral trailer below.

Buckle Up, This Ride’s Only Getting Bumpier in The Last of Us

All eyes are on Season 2 of the HBO drama, and after the gut-wrenching events of the first season, fans are wondering, “Could it possibly get worse?” The short answer: Yes. Even HBO’s official description of the highly anticipated second season hints at the growing tension: “After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”

The tension-filled trailer premiered on March 8 during The Last of Us panel at SXSW, featuring showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann alongside stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Gabriel Luna, and Young Mazino. The two-minute preview closes with a heart-stopping moment, as Ellie—tears in her eyes—confronts Joel, saying, “You swore.” This is a direct callback to the moment Joel lied to Ellie at the end of Season 1.

While fans of the game may think they know what’s coming, Mazin and Druckmann have already demonstrated their willingness to make bold changes to the story. That means no one, not even the most die-hard fans, can be certain of how Season 2 will unfold. The Last of Us Season 2 premieres Sunday, April 13, on HBO and Max.

Source: Warner Bros. Discovery