The Last of Us Season 2 Release Date: Everything to Know About HBO's Return

The Last of Us Season 2: Release Date, Cast, Trailers, and What’s New

Fans of The Last of Us no longer have to wonder when Joel and Ellie will make their comeback. HBO and Max are dropping season 2 on April 13, 2025, at 9 PM ET/PT, sparking a buzz among viewers who’ve been waiting since the last season’s gut-punch of a finale. This launch lands on a Sunday, sticking with the tried-and-true schedule that’s worked so well for HBO heavyweights.

Bella Ramsey is back as Ellie, and Pedro Pascal returns as the scruffy and stubborn Joel. But it’s not just familiar faces drawing attention. Season 2 is stepping things up—it’s pulling in a string of new actors, and there’s plenty of curiosity about who’ll join and how they’ll fit into the tense, post-apocalyptic world. Teaser images dropped in February 2025 showed Joel looking more haunted than ever, while a snow-dusted Abby is already fueling speculation online. Abby, as fans of the original game know, is at the heart of some of the series’ most explosive events.

Production isn’t just about picking up where the game left off. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are doubling down on what made the series work: dense, high-calorie episodes packed with drama, tension, and moments ripped right from the PlayStation blockbuster, plus a dash of original storytelling. The format holds at seven weekly episodes, each promising plenty of emotional whiplash. Don’t expect a comfortable retread—the early reviews out of premiere events in Los Angeles, Sydney, Paris, and London hint that this season’s shaking up narratives and character relationships for both seasoned fans and newcomers.

Trailers, World Premieres, and Enhanced Accessibility

Promos have been hard to ignore. On January 6, HBO kicked off their campaign with a teaser showing off Abby exploring long-forgotten buildings—heavy on atmosphere, with just enough threat to set social media alight. March 9 brought another trailer, this time highlighting Dina and Ellie twirling under confetti at a party, a swipe straight from the game’s quieter, more human moments. HBO’s marketing strategy is clear: this season’s range runs from raw action to private tenderness.

All that hype built up to a string of world premieres before the main release. Screenings landed in major cities, Los Angeles leading the charge in late March, closely followed by Sydney, Paris, and London in the first ten days of April. Critics who caught the first episode all pointed to one thing—season two isn’t content to simply follow the map. Expect refreshed storylines, tense new friendships, and fallout from old decisions.

Up next: accessibility. Every episode drops with an ASL (American Sign Language) version, interpreted by Daniel Durant, appearing on Max at the same time as the main release. That’s a big step, making sure even more fans can jump in on day one.

Viewers have seven straight Sundays of season 2 drama lined up, with the finale closing out the run later in 2025. Whether you’re here for Joel and Ellie, new blood like Abby, or just to see how far HBO will push its acclaimed adaptation, you won’t want to miss it.