The Last of Us season 2: Everything we know so far

Here’s all we know about The Last of Us season 2’s casting updates, plot details, and what to expect.

The yearning for new episodes of The Last of Us has turned into full-blown impatience ever since the first season ended earlier this year. Fans of the series have been nothing short of mesmerized by the creative minds of Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann (the latter being the mastermind behind the video game that the series is based on) and now have an insatiable craving for its upcoming second season.

Season 1 left its mark on us as the best video game adaptation in TV show history (in my very humble opinion, though it’s a sentiment shared among fans overall), and it’s got us all wanting more of its impeccable performances, creepy and realistic visual effects, and gut-wrenching storytelling.

In the season 1 finale, Joel (portrayed by the ever-talented and self-proclaimed-turned-into-ommon-knowledge Internet Daddy Pedro Pascal) resorted to… “extreme measures” (aka, killing every Firefly in sight) to safeguard the life of Ellie (portrayed perfectly by Bella Ramsey). The culmination of season 1 left a very bittersweet aftertaste as we realized Ellie skeptically questions Joel if he’s lied to her while having an inkling that he did in fact lie when it came to telling her what happened to the Fireflies and their pursuit of a cure.

We all cheered when HBO gave the green light for The Last of Us season 2, which was officially announced in January. The anticipation, especially for those poor souls unfamiliar with Naughty Dog’s PlayStation game, is overwhelming. While we can’t completely soothe your nerves as we wait for the second season, we can give you everything we know about it so far.

How much of The Last of Us Part II will be covered in season 2?

In an interview with GQ in March 2023, Mazin and Druckmann spoke a little bit about the second season. Wondering if it covers the entire expanse of Part II of the game? “No, no way,” Mazin declared with conviction. Druckmann also doubled down, explaining that Part II’s narrative requires “more than one season” to be faithfully unveiled. As a fan of the game before a show was ever thought of, I am immensely thankful that they’ll be taking their time with Part II’s content as it’s very heavy and not meant to be cut short.

Also, while the exact number of seasons needed to tell the whole story hasn’t been brought up, the duo’s enthusiasm promises a deep, immersive journey. I am here for it.

As far as the infected, they are projected to make a bigger appearance in the new season. Mazin hinted to Variety in yet another interview, “It’s quite possible that there will be a lot more infected later. And perhaps different kinds.”

Brace yourselves for an intense atmosphere, with possible spine-chilling encounters.

Does The Last of Us season 2 have a release date?

Hold your breath, dear viewers, for no official release date or production schedule for Season 2 has been announced. I know. I can hear the sighs from here.

Has The Last of Us season 2 started filming?

Complicating matters, ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes have aided in delaying the second season further. In a February 2023 chat with Collider, Daddy Pedro gave us a sliver of hope, hinting at a potential start to Season 2’s filming within the current year. But, this glimmer of optimism has faded slightly as strikes prevent filming and production, and we could be looking at an early 2024 filming start date.

When the camera finally starts rolling, season 1’s production timeline could offer some comfort for those desperate for an update: a year of shooting with the release coming six months later.

The Last of Us season 2 cast

Other than the 99% certainty of Pedro Pedro’s Joel and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie returning for another round, there hasn’t been much of an update or announcements for other key characters in Part II. Yes, that includes Abby, who we’re all very eager to see on the screen. There has been dream casting after dream casting regarding Abby and who should play her as fans are becoming increasingly impatient with the announcement.

The Last of Us season 2 is shaping up to be an anticipation burrito filled with secrets we can’t quite dig into yet, paired with a crisp side of whispers of the infected and a cast of beloved survivors. While we wait for more details on the upcoming season 2, relive the horrors, tears, giggles, and insane story of the first season of The Last of Us on Max.