HBO's zombie series The Last of Us was an instant hit when it premiered in 2023. In fact, it was so popular that HBO promptly renewed the show for a sophomore season after just three episodes had aired. Based on the beloved Naughty Dog video game franchise, The Last of Us chronicles the journey of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and his unbreakable, profound bond with Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Beware SPOILERS for the first season below!
In season 1, Joel was tasked with escorting Ellie — who appears immune to the zombie plague — across a post-apocalyptic United States to a group known as the Fireflies, who would use her immunity to develop a vaccine. However, when Joel arrives at the hospital, he learns that the process of developing a vaccine would ultimately kill Ellie. And so, while she's unconscious on the operating table, he goes on an emotionally fueled rampage and ends up saving her, taking her back home safe and sound. But she's blissfully unaware of how many people Joel killed to prevent the creation of a vaccine that could theoretically save the world.
Season 2 will deal with the aftermath of those events. Check out our first teaser:
Season 1 adapted the entirety of the story from the first video gam. Season 2, however, will likely only tell about half of the story from The Last of Us: Part II. The second game is significantly longer, with more characters and a more complicated structure. The new season will premiere early on in 2025, and while HBO has not officially green-lit a third outing, it appears the season is already in pre-production.
According to Production Bulletin, a reliable source for all film and TV production dates, HBO has set a Summer 2025 production start date for The Last of Us season 3. Filming is slated the take place in the show's regular filming spot in Vancouver, Canada. It makes sense that it'd show up early on filming schedules, given that The Last of Us is the biggest TV production in Canadian history. The logistics are likely insane.
Moreover, the listing sees the return of numerous previous directors, including Mark Mylod, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Kate Herron, and Stephen Williams.
As we expect seasons 2 and 3 to cover the entirety of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us: Part II, I'm not surprised at all to see HBO has reportedly moved the third season into pre-production.
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