Based on Naughty Dog’s 2013 action-adventure game sharing the same name, The Last of Us is set after a global pandemic that destroys civilization. Now that the first season is over, most are hoping to find news about the second, so here’s everything we know so far about The Last of Us season 2.
The first season premiered in the beginning of 2023 and ended in March, only giving fans 9 episodes of the beautiful and rich story. And it was thankfully one of the few adaptations that did an amazing job. From tense and brutal moments, to enriching backstories, viewers everywhere fell in love with both Joel and Ellie as they faced constant challenges to survive.
For those that are patiently waiting for any news for the oncoming seasons, here is everything we know about The Last of Us season 2, from rumors and casting to official dates.
RELATED: Best Pedro Pascal Movies and Shows
Future Seasons of The Last of Us
The good news is that The Last of Us has been renewed for a second season. The better news is that in an interview with GQ UK, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann confirmed that the second season will not being able to encompass all of the second game, which means there will be several seasons to come, we just don’t know how many. Mazin says that he can’t say exactly how many will be coming but “more than one is factually correct”.
The bad news is that after the events of the second game, there may not be any more seasons. The first season perfectly packaged the first game, and if two or three more seasons captures the second game, there isn’t anything else to adapt. Currently, there are rumors for a third installment of The Last of Us video game, but no official confirmation.
A tweet from ViewerAnon confirms these rumors. What’s exciting is that they’ve had a history of revealing truthful announcements like the Crash Bandicoot game, so it’s not a stretch to believe them.
Well, I'm not watching anything, so… Dr. Uckmann's next game is THE LAST OF US PART III which is currently in production at Naughty Dog. https://t.co/MxN8aBq9cy
— ViewerAnon (@ViewerAnon) December 13, 2022
While Naughty Dog hasn’t officially announced a third installment, the writers have mentioned that they have a nice outline of the story if it happens, and they hope it will. Therefore, it’s safe to say that if there’s a third installment of The Last of Us video game, fans should be prepared for more seasons, but it’s not likely.
Release Date and Casting
Unfortunately, filming has not started yet, and there hasn’t been any news on when it will. Currently, with the ongoing WGA strike, pre-production has been suspended indefinitely based on a Variety report.
And what’s worse is that Bella Ramsey has mentioned that the series will likely return in 2025, ruling out the possibility of seeing Joel and Ellie back in 2024. This news has been confirmed by Deadline’s interview with HBO’s head of drama, Francesca Orsi, who mentions that “we were looking at The Last of Us for some time in 2025″.
As for the casting, it hasn’t been officially announced, but it’s safe to say that Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will be coming back as Joel and Ellie. Gabriel Luna will be coming back as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Tommy’s Wife, Maria. Additional characters that are hoped to be announced soon are Abby and Dina, who both play crucial roles in the upcoming season. Other characters we’re waiting to be announced include Jesse, Lev, Yara, Owen, Mel, and Jerry, all important characters that fans are excited to see.
CHECK OUT: Binge Challenge: The Best Shows to Binge in One Day
What to Expect in Season 2
While it’ll be a bit longer before we hear any concrete information on what direction they might be going, it is safe to say that The Last of Us season 2 will begin to focus on the second game’s events. Compared to the first game, the story will be a bit darker and complex, focusing on revenge.
For those that want a bit of context to where the story could go, read on to find out more. However, there may be some spoilers.
The second installment of The Last of Us is set five years after the events of the first game. It follows a more grown-up and hardened Ellie, at the age of 19, and an older Joel. The two have a strained relationship after the events of the first installment. They are currently living in a community with Joel’s brother, Tommy. Fans will mostly follow Ellie as she lives her day-to-day life in the camp.
Fans will also meet a woman named Abby who is leading a group of soldiers near this camp. In the game, you’re switching point-of-views often between Ellie and Abby as they both search for revenge and work through hard emotions like betrayal and grief. It’s a dark game that truly shows both sides of each story.
If The Last of Us season 2 follows the game, we will most likely see changing perspectives of multiple characters and in-depth backstories like we witnessed in the first season. Viewers will feel immense conflict as they watch two sides destroying themselves and those around them, and realizing that in such a cruel world, there really isn’t a ‘good’ side.
Where Can You Stream The Last of Us?
For those that want to rewatch this amazing show, check out Max to watch the first season as you wait for season 2.
What to Watch While You Wait?
But if rewatching The Last of Us doesn’t do it for you, these are some great suggestions to watch while you wait.
- Strangers Things: Follow a young girl and her friends as they uncover secret experiments and face terrifying supernatural creatures.
- Game of Thrones: Watch as nine noble families betray, sacrifice and fight for control of all of Westeros.
- The Boys: A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes that abuse their powers.
- The Mandalorian: A lone bounty hunter travels to the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the control of the New Republic.
- The Walking Dead: After waking from a coma, Rick Grimes finds the world in ruins after a zombie apocalypse.
While the wait might be long, watching a well-crafted adaptation of Naughty Dog’s game is worthwhile. From zombie attacks to dealing with hard topics like grief and trauma, The Last of Us brings fans an enriching and captivating story and environment. For those that want to keep up with any exciting news on The Last of Us season 2, check back here regularly to see any updates that we find.
READ MORE: Best Family Movies on HBO Max