The Last Of Us is returning for its second season on Max, and we just got our newest look at Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, and Kaitlyn Dever as Abby—including an official premiere date for the first episode.
Now confirmed to launch on Max,August 14, 2025,the latest posters showcase the three main characters walking on top of symbols representing each of their respective characters, such as Joel (facing left) shown standing on the watch that he received from Sarah on his birthday, still broken from the tragic events that led toone of the saddest video game deaths in history.
We also see Bella Ramsey as Ellie (facing right) holding her trusty switchblade knife, and walking on top of a guitar, which is a recurring item throughout the video game, serving as a constant reminder of her lost connection to Joel. Ellie can also be seen rocking her half-bun haircut from the games.
The Last of Us Season 2 Starts April; New Trailer Released
HBO has announced that The Last of Us Season 2 will start airing this April 2025, and we even get a new trailer alongside the announcement.
Lastly, we get one of our clearest looks yet atKaitlyn Dever as the controversial antagonist Abby.She sports a less muscular build than her game counterpart, likely to better suit the actor and prioritize her performance over physical features.
The poster captures Abby stepping across a Firefly pendant—as her thirst for revenge is fueled by the militant rebel group’s devastating losses, including her father’s death, at the hands of Joel in last season’s finale.
Adapting The Story For TV
Featuring the tagline“Every path has a price,”the posters reinforce the themes of The Last Of Us Part II, depicting the relentless cycle of violence. It also suggests that the game’s major story beats, which sparked divisive reactions from fans, will most likely remain intact.
Though the central plotline may follow the video game’s blueprint, there are sure to be noticeable differences in the structure of the show’s upcoming seasons, as well as additions and/or removals of subplots compared to the original—for example, Melanie Lynskey’s character, Kathleen Coghlan, is a prominent figure in the first season with significant screen time who was created solely for the show.
This can be a double-edged sword, as Kathleen wasn’t universally well-received. Her lack of an imposing presence led some fans to question the believability of her role as a ruthless faction leader.
On the other hand, the TV show also presented some interesting new bits of world-building with their unique take on how the infected behaved as an interconnected unit, andadditional backstory for Sarah, Ellie, and even Nick Offerman as Bill.
Those familiar with the story understand themoral dilemmas that haunt these characters, as they navigate the gray areas of survival and revenge in their world.This complexity is what makes the narrative so gripping, evoking such raw and visceral emotions from fans worldwide.
Come April 13, it’ll be fascinating to see how fans and newcomers react to each episode and whether it changes the minds of those who were critical of the game’s story at first now that the writers have more breathing room across two whole TV seasons.
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With the second season of The Last Of Us around the corner, series creators have discussed how they plan to deviate from the source material.
