‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Sets HBO Premiere Date, Expands Cast With Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, and More
HBO’s post-apocalyptic juggernaut The Last of Us is officially returning for its highly anticipated second season. The network has confirmed that the Emmy-winning drama will premiere on Sunday, April 13, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with episodes streaming on Max following their linear debut.
Adapted from the acclaimed PlayStation video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog, the series—helmed by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann, the game’s original co-creator—enters its sophomore season with heightened stakes, an expanded world, and fresh faces joining its core cast.
What to Expect in Season 2
Picking up five years after the emotional wreckage of season one’s finale, the new season sees Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) navigating a world that has only grown more hostile. Their relationship, forged in survival, now faces its most profound test yet as tensions rise and new threats emerge.
The show’s upcoming arc is expected to closely follow the events of The Last of Us Part II, the polarizing yet critically lauded sequel to the original game. Fans can anticipate intense action, moral gray areas, and a deeper dive into the consequences of Joel’s fateful decision in the season one finale.
Star-Studded Cast Expands the Universe
Pascal and Ramsey return as the series’ emotional core, joined once again by Gabriel Luna as Joel’s brother Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria. However, it’s the slate of newcomers that has the fandom buzzing.
Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick, Booksmart) officially steps into the role of Abby, the formidable soldier whose arrival sends shockwaves through Joel and Ellie’s world. Isabela Merced (Madame Web, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) joins as Dina, Ellie’s love interest, while Young Mazino (Beef) portrays Jesse, a key figure in their journey.
Rounding out the new additions are Ariela Barer (Runaways) as Mel, Tati Gabrielle (You, The 100) as Nora, Spencer Lord (Riverdale) as Owen, Danny Ramirez (Top Gun: Maverick) as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) as Isaac, the imposing leader of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF).
And in a surprise guest-starring turn, Catherine O’Hara—the Emmy-winning legend from Schitt’s Creek—joins the cast in an undisclosed role.
Behind the Scenes and Production Team
As with its debut season, The Last of Us remains in the hands of a powerhouse production team. Mazin and Druckmann return as co-creators, writers, and executive producers, alongside Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells. Halley Gross, who co-wrote The Last of Us Part II, also serves as a writer and co-executive producer.
The series is produced in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog, ensuring that the video game’s DNA remains deeply embedded in the adaptation.
A Cultural Phenomenon Returns
Season one of The Last of Us was a landmark success for HBO, drawing record-breaking viewership numbers and scoring multiple Emmy nominations, including acting nods for Pascal and Ramsey. The series was hailed as a gold standard for video game adaptations, earning widespread acclaim for its faithful yet cinematic storytelling.
With Season 2 set to explore some of the most controversial and ambitious storylines from the source material, the stakes have never been higher.
Mark Your Calendar
Fans won’t have to wait much longer to return to the Clicker-infested world of The Last of Us. Season 2 debuts Sunday, April 13, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
Let the countdown—and the emotional devastation—begin.
