The Last of Us Season 2: Everything We Know So Far

Adaptations are tricky to pull off, and video game-to-TV adaptations rarely work.

However, HBO struck gold in early 2023 with its adaptation of The Last of Us, notching solid ratings and critical acclaim.

Below, we've rounded up everything there is to know about The Last of Us Season 2.

The Last of Us Season 2 Renewal Status

HBO officially renewed The Last of Us in January 2023 after it was revealed to be the premium cabler's second-largest debut, behind only House of the Dragon.

"Craig and Neil, alongside EP Carolyn Strauss, and the rest of our phenomenal cast and crew, have defined a genre with their masterful debut season of The Last of Us," said Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films.

"After pulling off this unforgettable first season, I can't wait to watch this team outshine themselves again with season two."

"I'm humbled, honored, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie's journey," said executive producer Neil Druckmann.

"The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast & crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations.

Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog & PlayStation, thank you!"

"I'm so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I'm even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey," said executive producer Craig Mazin.

"The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn't be more ready to dive back in."

The Last of Us Season 2: How Many Episodes Have Been Ordered?

The Last of Us Season 1 spanned nine episodes that adapted the original 2013 Naughty Dog video game.

With The Last of Us Season 2 adapting the second video game, there are questions about how many episodes it will span.

HBO and the creatives have yet to confirm how many episodes have been ordered, but we're sure it will all come down to how many episodes are required to tell the story.

We trust the creatives on this one because the first season was THAT good. It was one of the biggest surprises of the year.

The Last of Us Season 2 Plot: What's About to Go Down?

It's also unclear whether the entire second game will be adapted for Season 2.

Five years have passed between the two video games, so there's a high chance the series will include storylines set during those years.

Another possibility is that the second game is adapted across two seasons. We're about to delve into the plot of the second game, so be prepared for spoilers.

The game begins with Joel helping Abby before we learn that she's the daughter of the doctor Joel killed at the end of the first game.

Abby seeks revenge and kills Joel, leaving a distraught Ellie on her own path of vengeance as she vows to take down Abby and the people responsible for Joel's death.

The second game ups the stakes considerably, and we're sure it will be the same case for the series.

The Last of Us Season 1 thrived on the dynamic created between Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, so the series has a lofty task ahead if it opts to write out Pascal early.

The shift is felt in the video game, which becomes a story of revenge, but it also tells us things from Abby's perspective.

Adapting that well will be crucial to the success of the TV series' sophomore season.

The video game courted controversy over Joel's death, and something tells me it will be a similar case when the TV show follows through with it.

The Last of Us Season 2 Cast: Who's In?

Pascal and Ramsey will, of course, be back. The plot also calls for Gabriel Luna's Tommy and Rutina Wesley's Maria to return.

Mazin told The Los Angeles Times earlier this year that Abby had been cast, but he held off on announcing the name of the lucky star.

"Once the series is back in production, key questions abound about the second season, such as who will play Abby, a new character who is a rival to Ellie," Mazin said at the time.

We now know that Kaitlyn Dever has locked down that sought-after role.

Dever is best known for her work on shows like Justified and Last Man Standing, as well as in such films as Booksmart and No One Will Save You.

Her physically demanding performance in that last flick was likely good training for the role of Abby, who's described by producers as “a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.”

Also joining the cast for Season 2 is Young Manzino, who will be playing the role of Jesse.

Manzino is best known for his role as Paul on the critically acclaimed Netflix limited series Beef.

Mazin and Druckmann say they're thrilled to be working with this exciting young talent, and they're sure he'll be a hit with viewers.

“Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him,” the duo said in a statement that accompanied the casting announcement.

“We’re so lucky to have him, and we can’t wait for the audience to see Young shine in our show.”

Manzino was nominated for an Emmy for his work on Beef, and he's stolen scenes on Blue Bloods, Prodigal Son, and New Amsterdam.

It's also been announced that Isabela Merced will be joining the cast as Dina, “a free-wheeling spirit whose devotion to Ellie will be tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit."

“Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous and instantly lovable,” Druckmann and Mazin said via a joint statement.

“You can search forever for an actor who effortlessly embodies all of those things, or you can find Isabela Merced right away. We couldn’t be prouder to have her join our family.”

At just 22, Merced is already an established singer and a veteran actress with roles in such diverse projects as Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Dora and the Lost City of Gold.

Also joining the Last of Us for the show's second season is TV veteran Catherine O'Hara.

O'Hara is mostly known for her comedic roles in projects like Schitt's Creek, Home Alone, and Christopher Guest mockumentaries like Best In Show.

But while the details of O'Hara's role are being kept under wraps, we're guessing the show about survivors of a post-apocalyptic fungal pandemic will require her to explore her darker side.

There's not a whole lot of dramatic work on O'Hara's resume, but her versatility is the stuff of legend, so we're sure she'll be able to handle whatever the show throws her way.

Joining The Last of Us Season 2 are Danny Ramirez (Top Gun: Maverick), Ariela Barer (Runaways), Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Spencer Lord (Riverdale).

According to Variety, Ramirez joins as Manny, described as "a loyal solider whose sunny outlook belies the pain of old wounds and a fear that he will fail his friends when they need him most."

Barer will play Mel, "a young doctor whose commitment to saving lives is challenged by the realities of war and tribalism."

Gabrielle joins as Nora, "a military medic struggling to come to terms with the sins of her past."

Lord has been cast as Owen, "a gentle soul trapped in a warrior's body, condemned to fight an enemy he refuses to hate."

Needless to say, Mazin and Druckmann are dedicated to bringing in top-tier acting talent for their show's second season.

Many roles are yet to be filled, but sadly, we can only speculate until casting news is revealed.

The Last of Us Season 2: Has Filming Started?

Like many other series, production on The Last of Us is on hold.

The Writers Guild of America strike kicked off just after writing on the season premiere was completed.

With that strike resolved, the writers are working hard to craft the remaining episodes.

SAG-AFTRA members remain on strike, and they will do so until a fair deal is reached that compensates members fairly for their work and protects them against the use of artificial intelligence.

As a result, there's no telling when production can get underway.

The Last of Us Season 2: When Does it Premiere?

Casting is now well underway for exciting roles, but it will still be a while before we see the show's sophomore season. HBO is targeting a 2025 premiere date for The Last of Us Season 2.

We should have more updates on that in the coming months, so keep this page bookmarked for all the latest TV news.

We'll be updating it as new details are revealed.