Washington [US], April 10: HBO has officially renewed its acclaimed post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us for a third season, even before the premiere of its much-anticipated second season.
The announcement was made via the network’s official social media handle, where HBO teased fans with the caption, “It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs.”
The renewal comes as no surprise, given the show’s continued success in viewership numbers. The debut season drew an average of over 30 million viewers, with the premiere episode alone pulling in 4.7 million same-day viewers.
Series creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin expressed their appreciation for the immense fan support and HBO’s backing.
“To see The Last of Us brought to life so beautifully and faithfully has been a career highlight for me,” Druckmann shared in a statement.
Mazin added, “We approached season two with the goal of creating something we could be proud of. The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals.”
Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming and Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, praised the production team and cast, stating, “It can’t be overemphasized how proud HBO is for the outstanding achievement we believe the second season of The Last of Us is.”
Season 2 of the series will consist of seven episodes and is set to pick up five years after the events of Season 1. The story will dive deeper into the emotional and physical struggles between Joel and Ellie, as they navigate an even more dangerous and fractured world.
Returning cast members include Pedro Pascal (Joel), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley. New faces joining the cast are Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, and Jeffrey Wright.