Joel and Ellie are back, and they still can’t catch a break.
On Saturday, HBO unveiled the action-packed, official trailer for the second season of The Last of Us during a panel at SXSW—and it looks like life is about to get much, much harder for the plucky protagonists, played by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
Set five years after the events of the first season, Joel (Pascal) and Ellie (Ramsey) must navigate a snow-covered dystopia that has become even more perilous and unpredictable. The trailer begins with a moment of respite for our heroes in a remote safehold, before tensions rise and blood begins to flow.
The sneak peek also features new characters, such as Abby, a vengeance-seeking soldier played by Apple Cider Vinegar‘s Kaitlyn Dever and Dina, played by Alien: Romulus star Isabela Merced, who prompts an awakening in Ellie. Fans of the video game will also note the arrival of the Seraphites, a religious sect, and the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), a militarized group.
Season 1 of The Last of Us received widespread critical acclaim, garnered eight Emmy Awards, and was a ratings bonanza for HBO. The second season brings back returning cast members Pascal, Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley. New additions include Dever, Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, HBO regular Jeffrey Wright, and comedy legend Catherine O’Hara in a guest-starring role.
The series, written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, is based on the blockbuster video game franchise (co-created by Druckmann) developed by Naughty Dog for PlayStation consoles.
The Last of Us‘s seven-episode second season is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, April 13, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, with episodes available for streaming on Max.
