The first look at the much-anticipated Season 2 of The Last of Us debuted in HBO Max’s 2024 and 2025 slate video, which includes footage from other HBO series such as The Penguin, Dune: Prophecy, The Franchise, It: Welcome to Derry, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and more.

While brief, the scenes pack a significant punch, featuring a new cast of characters, including Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, Catherine O’Hara in a yet-unknown role, Jeffrey Wright returning as Isaac, and Isabela Merced as Dina.

The teaser includes a flashback to a party in a barn in Jackson from the game, The Last of Us Part II, sparking excitement with familiar and new moments. The Last of Us Season 1 ended with Joel (Pedro Pascal) saving Ellie (Bella Ramsey) from a potentially fatal procedure that could have cured the fungal infection plaguing the world. Joel’s actions, including killing several people and lying to Ellie, will continue to cast a shadow over their relationship.

The footage highlights Joel alluding to the hospital incident while speaking with Catherine O’Hara’s character, grappling with his pivotal decision from the previous season. O’Hara’s character remains a mystery, but she appears to challenge Joel to confront his past actions. Isabela Merced plays Dina, Ellie’s love interest, while Wright reprises his role from the video game as Isaac Dixon. Brief glimpses include Tommy (Gabriel Luna) defending Jackson and Ellie escaping from an infected, indicating The Last of Us Season 2’s intensity will match its predecessor.

The series premiered in early 2023 to critical acclaim, quickly becoming one of the strongest video game adaptations in recent years. Season 2 aims to maintain this success as it delves into the divisive second game, possibly spanning multiple seasons.

The Last of Us Season 2, set to arrive on HBO in 2025, promises a devastating and emotional continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story. Although an exact release date remains unknown, anticipation for the new season continues to build.