Major news, even if we all saw it coming: HBO's The Last of Us has officially been renewed for Season 3, less than a week before the premiere of Season 2 on Max.
“It can’t be for nothing,” Max revealed via its social media channels on April 9. “Season 3 is coming.” A deep red flare burns brightly in the bottom corner of a video accompanying the ominous caption.
It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/q5HxyvK9O6
— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 9, 2025
The Last of Us premiered in January 2023 to widespread acclaim, with many calling it the best video game adaptation to date. Season 1 earned a remarkable eight Emmy Awards out of 24 nominations. The highly-anticipated Season 2 will see leads Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal return as Ellie and Joel, alongside newcomer Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, a soldier driven by vengeance after losing someone close to her. Beef star Young Mazino, Alien: Romulus star Isabelle Merced, Captain America: Brave New World star Danny Ramirez, and legends Catherine O’Hara and Jeffrey Wright will also join the cast for Season 2.
Recently, series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann spoke with IGN about their thoughts on the enduring debate: “Was Joel right?”—a question at the heart of the franchise since the game’s 2013 release.“I believe Joel was right,” the Naughty Dog studio head told us. “If I were in Joel’s position, I hope I’d do what he did to save my daughter.” But Mazin saw it differently. “That’s fascinating, because I think if I were in Joel’s position, I’d probably do what he did,” the Chernobyl showrunner noted. “But I’d like to believe I wouldn’t. That’s the compelling tension in its morality—and why the ending of the first game is so provocative and so powerful. It doesn’t let you off the hook as a player.”
The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on Max on April 13, 2025—but a release date for Season 3 remains uncertain for now. Check out IGN’s spoiler-free review of The Last of Us Season 2 for more.
