Season 2 of The Last of Us doesn’t premiere until next week, but fans of the franchise were treated to an exciting surprise this morning. Naughty Dog and HBO announced that the hit series will officially return for a third season.
The announcement came via a brief teaser featuring the series’ logo and a subtle background detail that players of the game will instantly recognize.
This critically acclaimed series starring Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal has won praise for its faithful and emotionally powerful portrayal of the original game. Though no release date for Season 3 has been announced, its likely fans will have to wait at least a year, given the production timeline of the second season.
Premiering on April 13, the second season will cover just the first half of the game’s second installment, one of the most ambitious and controversial storylines in gaming. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann had long hinted that a single season wouldn’t be enough, but it’s still unclear whether the third will conclude the series or if a fourth is on the horizon.
The Last of Us Returns
Ellie and Joel’s story picks up again on April 13, when Season 2 of The Last of Uspremiers on HBO. This new chapter will bring seven episodes and dive into Part II of the game.
Fans can also look forward to meeting key new characters, including Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), along with familiar faces such as Tommy (Gabriel Luna), Maria (Rutina Wesley), Dina (Isabela Merced), Jesse (Young Mazino), Manny (Danny Ramírez), Mel (Ariela Barer), and Nora (Tati Gabrielle).
Mazin has promised a powerful, emotionally rich continuation with some surprises for longtime fans of the game.