You may thank HBO’s The Last of Us for finally breaking the curse of video game adaptations in 2023. Thanks to the game’s adored stories, characters, and ardent audience, adapting renowned video game company Naughty Dog’s multi-game of the year-winning masterpiece is no picnic.
Fans had good reason to be nervous before the show premiered because live-action versions of video games are often wildly inaccurate or, worse, completely unwatchable. Be that as it may, HBO’s The Last of Us is, as many viewers are aware, the first successful adaptation of a video game.
Actually, any adaptation could learn a thing or two from The Last of Us. The producers and actors of the Emmy-winning series obviously adore the source material, but the hit show on HBO isn’t hesitant to stray from the rules when it makes sense.
The show has already cemented its place in history as the finest video game show adaptation of all time, thanks to its brilliant reinvention of Bill and Frank’s relationship (played by Nick Offerman) and Ellie and Joel’s (Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey) contagious chemistry.
Reviews and ratings are overwhelmingly positive, thus it seems that both critics and audiences are in agreement. Even before Season 1 ended, HBO had already approved a second season, maybe due to the show’s success.
We at Collider are eager to see what the future holds for Joel and Ellie, and we can only imagine how thrilled the show’s viewers are about their return to HBO Max. Everything we know about The Last of Us Season 2 so far is here for you to discover, so you can get a head start on the next chapter of the narrative.
‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Release Date
We can pretty much rule out 2023 as the start date for The Last of Us Season 2 at this point, but we don’t yet have a fixed release date for the show’s anticipated sophomore season because of how early in development it is. “It will be a while,” Bella Ramsey said, confirming that the show’s return is likely in 2025.
It is my expectation that filming will take place sometime between now and the new year. So, late 2024 or early 2025 is the likely window. According to Francesca Orci, Head of HBO Drama, who spoke with Deadline, HBO has officially announced that Season 2 is now scheduled to premiere in 2025.
Because of where development is at the moment, adjustments to that timeline are still within the realm of possibility (more below).
The ‘Last of Us’ Season 2: Latest Production Update
Set in Vancouver, Canada, filming on Season 2 of The Last of Us will commence in January 2024. Because of the strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, filming on Season 2 of The Last of Us has been halted indefinitely. Screenplays for the upcoming season were still in the creative stages when the decision to go on strike was made.
With the announcement that “We’ve outlined all of Season 2, and we’re ready to go as soon as the strike ends,” Neil Druckmann did confirm that production on Season 2 would begin shortly.
Who’s Making ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2?
You can probably count on seeing most of the main creatives from Season 1 of The Last of Us back for Season 2. In particular, this encompasses Neil Druckmann, who has played an integral role in developing the game into a television series. Druckmann had the following to say after the announcement of the second season:
“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. 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!”
Craig Mazin (Chernobyl), the show’s creator and executive producer, is also coming back for season two, and he and the show’s creator have some common ground:
“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. 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.”
Those curious about when each series will be available for purchase may find this useful:
- The Artful Dodger Release Date: Street Smart and Screen Ready!
- Kengan Omega Chapter 245 Release Date: Unveiling the Next Chapter in the Fight Saga!
