Major news, even if we all saw it coming: HBO's The Last of Us has officially been renewed for Season 3, just days before the premiere of Season 2 on Max.
"It can't be for nothing," Max announced via its social media channels on April 9. "Season 3 is coming." The announcement was accompanied by a striking video featuring a deep red flare burning brightly in the bottom corner, adding an ominous tone to the message.
It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/q5HxyvK9O6
— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 9, 2025
The Last of Us first aired in January 2023 and received widespread acclaim, often hailed as the best video game adaptation to date. The show's first season garnered eight Emmy awards out of 24 nominations. Season 2, highly anticipated by fans, will see the return of stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal as Ellie and Joel, with Kaitlyn Dever joining the cast as Abby, a soldier driven by revenge after losing someone close to her. The new season will also feature an impressive lineup of actors including Young Mazino from Beef, Isabelle Merced from Alien: Romulus, Danny Ramirez from Captain America: Brave New World, and legends Catherine O’Hara and Jeffrey Wright.
Recently, series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann shared their thoughts with IGN on the ongoing debate about Joel's actions at the end of the first game, which has been a central topic since its release in 2013. Neil Druckmann, head of Naughty Dog, expressed his belief that "Joel was right," stating, "If I were in Joel's position, I hope I would be able to do what he did to save my daughter." In contrast, Craig Mazin, the showrunner of Chernobyl, offered a different perspective, saying, "That's so interesting, because I think that if I were in Joel's position, I probably would have done what he did. But I'd like to think that I wouldn't. That's the interesting push and pull of the morality of it. And that's why the ending of the first game is so provocative and so wonderful. It just doesn't let you off the hook as a player."
The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere on Max on April 13, 2025. While a release date for Season 3 remains undisclosed, fans can look forward to IGN's spoiler-free review of Season 2 for more insights.
