The second season of the highly acclaimed HBO series,, The Last of Us, is set to arrive soon. The post-apocalyptic plot, based on the acclaimed video game franchise, keeps unfolding. Given that cameras have already begun rolling for the upcoming season, it surely is going to turn out to be an emotional ride for fans as Joel and Ellie's relationship will grow more complicated than ever, following everything that happened in the first season.
It'll have some returning players, such as Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, while adding others to the ensemble, including Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, one of the major characters in the second game. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann revealed that the second season will be seven episodes, with one being way longer than the others in runtime.
While details regarding the plot are few and far between to avoid spoiling the video game's story beats, Ramsey expresses excitement to explore the story and its violence as the next season unfolds. With the first season having broken records at HBO, hopes are riding high for the show's return as it continues adapting this treasured gaming property for the small screen.
Will there be a Season 2 of The Last of Us? What will its release date be?
Yes, the critically acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us is going to have a second season. Immediately after breaking some viewing records at HBO with the release of its first season, the show was rushed to renewal in January 2023. Now, Season 2 is in production, with a projected release window sometime in 2025. Production began on February 1, 2024, and is underway in British Columbia, Canada.
The second season will have only seven episodes, compared to nine in the first season. However, story material adapted from the second video game is way more than that taken from the first game, so they decided to go ahead and split it into seasons.
It will see returning cast members in the form of Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, while also adding new names like Kaitlyn Dever, set to play the role of Abby—one of the major characters from the second game. The story will still trace the further journey of Joel and Ellie, with surprises promised by the showrunners at the end, even for those who played the games themselves.
An exact release date is still unknown but the second season is expected to arrive in the beginning of 2025 on both HBO and HBO Max. After an ending that left viewers emotional, people are highly anticipating the second season of The Last of Us.
Expected cast members and the characters they play in The Last of Us Season 2
The cast of The Last of Us Season 2 brings back old favorites and new characters to deepen what has already been a heavy show.
- Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller: The central character, is a hardened survivor navigating the post-apocalyptic world.
- Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams: Joel's companion, whose journey continues to evolve as she faces new challenges.
- Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller: Joel's brother, who plays a significant role in the unfolding story.
- Rutina Wesley as Maria: Tommy's wife, adds to the emotional stakes of the narrative.
- Kaitlyn Dever as Abby Anderson: A pivotal character from the second game, known for her complex motivations and backstory.
- Young Mazino as Jesse: A supportive character within the community, described as selfless.
- Isabela Merced as Dina: Ellie's love interest, whose relationship with Ellie becomes a focal point.
- Danny Ramirez as Manny: A character who adds depth to the community's dynamics.
- Ariela Barer as Mel: Another member of the community, likely to be involved in key story arcs.
- Tati Gabrielle as Nora Harris: A character who interacts closely with the main group.
- Spencer Lord as Owen Moore: A character with ties to Abby's storyline.
- Jeffrey Wright as Isaac Dixon: The leader of a militia group, reprising his role from the video game.
- Catherine O'Hara: Her role remains undisclosed.
What to expect in The Last of Us Season 2?
The first season ends on an action-intensive and moral quandary-stuffed finale as Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, does his best to save Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, from a fate worse than death—at the expense of thousands of lives. This moment proved pivotal for the second season—right off the back of the show's record-breaking premiere.
Season 2 explores the consequences Ellie comes to terms with - the truth of her immunity after what happened at the Fireflies' compound. It picks up the deadly tales of the second video game—revenge, moral complexities at the brink of insanity. Some of the new characters will include Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever, a girl, thirsting for revenge because Joel killed her father.
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann themselves characterize the material in the second game as vast, requiring a multi-season arc to fully extrapolate its depth and richness.
In a January 14 interview with Collider, Mazin said:
“Everything in our story... ultimately feeds back into the thing that matters the most for us, and that is Joel and Ellie’s relationship.”
As the air date draws closer, stay tuned to HBO to know how to stream the new season of The Last of Us when they drop. For more updates, please follow Soap Central!
