Premieres April 13 on HBO/MAX
Written by Julio Martinez
The highly anticipated second season of the HBO Original The Last of Us, the American post-apocalyptic drama series, is set to premiere on Sunday, April 13 at 9 PM ET/PT. The series, based on the popular video game franchise created by Naughty Dog, LLC, is written and executive produced by Neil Druckmann and directed by Craig Mazin.
Set two decades into a devastating global pandemic caused by a fungal infection that turns humans into aggressive, zombie-like creatures, The Last of Us explores a world where society has crumbled—and the fight for survival reveals both the best and worst of humanity.
At a recent press conference, Druckmann, Mazin, and the cast gathered to discuss the upcoming season, which follows the storyline of the 2020 game The Last of Us Part II. Season 2 continues the journey of Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, as he faces new challenges in a darker, more emotionally complex world.
Pascal expressed excitement about further developing Joel’s character. “There’s something really exciting about giving everyone another season of a show they loved—and that we worked so hard on,” he shared.
Pascal’s rise to stardom has been a long time coming. After nearly two decades of smaller roles on stage and screen, his breakout came as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones. He gained further acclaim playing DEA agent Javier Peña in Netflix’s Narcos (2015–2017).
Returning for season two is Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Joel’s younger brother. “It’s so comforting to get the family back together,” Luna said. “And we’ve added incredible new cast members who’ve brought a deep love for the source material. I may be 43, but their energy really lifted us all. We can’t wait for audiences to see what we’ve created.”
Luna is no stranger to high-energy roles, having previously starred as Robbie Reyes in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony Bravo in Matador, and Paco Contreras in Wicked City.
Season two introduces a host of new characters, including:
- Isabela Merced as Dina
- Young Mazino as Jesse
- Ariela Barer as Mel
- Tati Gabrielle as Nora
- Spencer Lord as Owen
- Danny Ramirez as Manny
- Jeffrey Wright as Isaac
- With a guest appearance by Catherine O’Hara
Merced, 24, shines as Dina, bringing both confidence and heart to the role. “I felt like the new kid at school,” she said. “I think Dina and I share this random, unshakable confidence. How does the new kid instantly become the ‘it’ girl?”
Luna joked, “She shows up to a press conference in a sparkly dress!” Merced laughed, “And you know I had to sparkle.” She went on to praise the inclusive and welcoming environment on set. “I felt really seen by Craig and Neil. That’s the kind of space where an actor can thrive.”
Merced, who considers herself “more Peruvian than American,” shared that Spanish was her first language and that she struggled with English in grade school. By age 15, however, she had already been accepted into college.
Bella Ramsey, returning as Ellie, opened up about the pressure and pride of continuing the story. “When season one came out, it was huge. Now with season two, all eyes are on us—and me—and that’s a bit scary. But it’s also exciting. I’m trying to see it as a celebration of all our hard work.” She highlighted the trust and camaraderie she shares with fellow cast members like Kaitlyn Dever and Young Mazino. “We went into this with total trust, and we’ve been supported every step of the way.”
Showrunners Mazin and Druckmann closed out the press event by reflecting on the intense preparation behind the scenes. “We’ve been working nonstop for two years,” Mazin said. “Season one ended—and we jumped right into writing, shooting, and editing season two. We’re incredibly proud and eager for fans to see it.”
Druckmann added, “Someone asked me if I’m excited for the premiere. I told them: I can’t even think that far ahead—we’ve still got this press conference to get through! But now it’s close, and I’m starting to imagine people watching. It’s going to be a wild ride.”
The Last of Us Season 2, will run for 7 episodes, beginning Sunday April 13 (9pm, ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.