The Last of Us Season 2 may not have hit the small screens yet, but fans are about to see more of Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joelle (Pedro Pascal) as the critically acclaimed HBO series is expected to run for two more seasons.
HBO Head of Drama Francesca Orsi has given a clear roadmap for the post-apocalyptic drama, with its story set to conclude in four seasons.
So, here's a detailed look at what fans can expect from The Last of Us.
The Last of Us May End After Four Seasons
In an interview with Deadline at The White Lotus Season 3 premiere, Orsi revealed that The Last of Us Season 2 will be the next HBO series to air following the third season of the black comedy-drama anthology, which kicks off a lineup of new and returning original dramas.
“We have a lot to say and do with Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal as well as Kaitlyn Dever and some other new players in the cast,” she said. “And then we roll into Julian Fellowes’ Gilded Age. Then, Task, Brad Ingelsby’s new show that’s for the fall, which is incredibly exciting.”
In a talk last year, co-creators and executive producers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann stated that adapting the story of The Last of Us Part II—on which the second season is based—would require at least one or two additional seasons.
Although Orsi couldn’t confirm it, she emphasized that The Last of Us would likely run for four seasons.
“We don’t have a complete or final plan, but I think it’s looking like four seasons,” she explained. “I wouldn’t want to confirm that, but it’s looking like this season and then two more seasons after this, and we’re done.”
The Last of Us May Need More Seasons to Complete The Last of Us Part II’s Story
As Mazin and Druckmann previously stated, The Last of Us may need more time to fully adapt the story of The Last of Us Part II.
Fans of the game know that its lengthy gameplay is packed with twists and emotional gut punches.
As the world of The Last of Us expands, Season 2 is expected to follow suit—deepening its narrative, making strategic additions, and refining certain elements.
Moreover, players are already familiar with the introduction of new factions and characters in the game’s universe.
While these additions may not appear in the upcoming season just yet, Orsi emphasized the elements that will keep the series compelling when it returns.
“There's certain elements in terms of the various factions that are competing for survival that reveal themselves as a really intriguing survivalist group, and I think they just have a quality to them that feels distinct in how they present it,” she explained. “There’s a certain way [the show] is presenting them in wardrobe and makeup that feels really different than the average person.”
The Last of Us Season 2 will be released in April 2025. It will pick up four years after the events of the first season and introduce Abby Anderson (Dever), who is driven by revenge against Joel.